My quote for the day

In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't...My quote of the day

My quote for the day

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe...My quote of the day

My quote for the day

“If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.”...My quote of the day

My quote for the day

“It is prosperity that gives us friends, adversity that proves them.”...My quote for the day

My quote for the day

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.


Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is bliss, taste it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it

LindarInsights: Twelve Roses For Uretta - Arlene R. Crenshaw

LindarInsights: Twelve Roses For Uretta - Arlene R. Crenshaw: "This is an emotional story about a woman's struggle with domestic violence and the secret her daughter who tells the story never got to tell..."

My quotes for the day

We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come...My quote of the day

My quotes for the day

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”...My quote of the day


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My quote of the day

Man, alone, has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; man, alone, can dream and make his dreams come true...My quote of the day

My quote of the day

“Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.”...My quote of the day

My quotes for the day

The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive valiantly; who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spend themselves in a worthy cause; who at the best, know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat...My quote of the day

Welcome Arlene Crenshaw’s Virtual Book Tour

Welcome Arlene Crenshaw’s Virtual Book TourWelcome Arlene Crenshaw’s Virtual Book Tour


July 21st, 2010
Author: Admin

Arlene Crenshaw

Twelve Roses for Uretta



Genre: Fiction/Domestic Abuse

Publisher: Lulu

Copyright: March, 2010





Welcome Arlene Crenshaw who bravely deals with the topic of domestic Abuse.



Arlene is a 48 yr woman with one son and two grandchildren. She raised her son on her own. They struggled for many years but made it. She feels blessed in so many ways. She lost her job about a year ago for something that was not her fault. It’s been difficult, finding work, and she prayed everyday for God to help her find something in this world she woud enjoy doing. In a dream a voice came upon her (God) and said to her. “You are here for a purpose and it is to write and inspire people.” Something she did all her life…inspire people, who would think that she would be writing novels today. Dreams do come true if you believe.



What drew you to write in your current genre?



“Twelve Roses for Uretta” It started out for me away of getting old memories out of my system, it was a healing process. It had gotten to the point in my life that I needed to let go of all the bad memories that were embedded within me in order to move on and take charge of my life. The story brought out things about me that I had carried within myself for most of my life and had never dealt with. The more I wrote and cried, the more things came out about my past. It was time to deal with it. It was time to get it all out and the story ended up turning into a novel of my life growing up with my mother.



How many novels have you written to date and are they all in the same genre? I’ve written a total of 3 novels so far. My 2nd novel will be out the end of July of 2010 and the 3rd I will be putting it out there the end of this year, 2010. My first novel is a true story the next to follow are all fiction. One is about hidden secrets and the other will be a kid’s book.



How much time do you spent on plotting etc before you start writing? Well I don’t spend a lot of time plotting I just sit down to my computer, say a little prayer before I write then I began to write, and my story just comes to life for me.



Where do you do most of your writing? Alone, in a little room in my home just me and my computer.



5. Looking back, what is the worst thing you have ever written? A letter I wrote to my father when I was about 9-10 years old, my father didn’t live with me and mother. So one day I just decide to write him a letter. While writing him this letter I just couldn’t think of anything to say to him, I just wanted to send him a letter from me. So in the letter I did write I kept repeating myself throughout the entire letter. Once my dad received the letter he called me and told me that if I wrote him another letter I needed to say more and write more than a paragraph. Then he said the letter he received was a waste of stamp, envelope and paper.



Tell us about your latest release. “Twelve Roses for Uretta” This is a true story of a mother’s struggle with domestic violence, while trying to raise her eight children. The story is told through the eyes of her daughter (Erica) who carried the burden of not being able to help her mother because she was too young. Erica also had her own private secret she was hiding. Erica never was able to tell her mother her secret before her mother’s untimely death.



7. How can your readers keep up with your news? mscrenshawsbooks.com. Also I’m on Blogger, saphire48@blogger.com and Facebook: arlenecrenshaw@facebook.com everyday doing what I call “My quote of the day.” How do you deal with rejection letters? So, far I haven’t received any, but I understand people have their opinions and they have a right to them.



What do you think about celebrities writing book? I think it’s great!



Here is a blog about domestic abuse written by Arlene:



Domestic Violence (love shouldn’t hurt)



What is it about hurting someone that you claim you love? There are women and children that suffer everyday by the hands of someone who claims that they love them. There are women who are preyed upon daily by men who want to control every aspect of their lives.



Some of these women who find themselves in situation like these are women who at some point in their life dealt with some form of mental or physical abuse.There are men that prey on these types of women. They look and seek out women who can’t protect themselves. They look for women that are venerable in many areas in there life. Such as loneliness, low self-esteem, mental or even physical problems.



Why do they do what they do? I’d say “control,” abuse is abuse and no one has to tolerate this type of treatment from anyone. Love shouldn’t hurt; domestic violence is a big problem in our world today.Not only are women suffering but children suffer as well. What a women may go through who has children, then children hearing and watching their mother being abused effects these children in ways that it can follow them for the rest of their live.



Results from seeing these types of behavior are daughter growing up with dominant men controlling and abusing them, and sons growing up being abusers.



I feel everyone who is in a relationship deserves to be treated with the utmost respect. Children should be able to sleep at night, learn and play throughout the daytime. We all as individual look forward to being in healthy relationships, not dysfunctional relationship and if you are in a relationship that isn’t healthy remember love doesn’t hurt. “Stop and put an end to Domestic Violence.”

My quote of the day

“Live with passion every day and you’ll never live with regrets.”...My quote of the day

My quote of the day

You were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within you. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as you let your own light shine, you unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As you are liberated from your own fear, your presence automatically liberates others...My quote of the day

Featured today at BK Walker Books

BK Walker Books Etc....

Expanding the mind with great reads, enjoying the company of great authors!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Book Tour - Twelve Roses for Uretta by Arlene Crenshaw

Please welcome my guest today,  Arlene Crenshaw,  author of Twelve Roses for Uretta.  Welcome Arlene and thank you for stopping in.

About the Book:  This is a true story told through the eyes of a child growing up with her mother, her name is Erica.  Erica's mother suffered horrendous abuse by her husbands;  Erica was the third child of Uretta.  Erica tells of her own suffering and guilt of not being able to reach out and help her mother,  because she at the time was too young,  as well as her sisters and brothers who were all too young to help.

Growing up with all her sadness and pain,  Erica finds herself in a situation that also added to the trauma of her life and caused her to be tormented from carrying so much guilt that it led to anxiety and depression throughout her whole life.  Erica never was able to let her mother Uretta,  know of the pain she endured or the suffering she carried from her mothers life.

Now in her own life,  she had a secret that was too unbearable to tell her mother about what happened to her at the age of fourteen.  She loved her mother so much she was never able to tell her the secret before her mother passed away.

This story is very emotional and heartbreaking,  guaranteed to grab your attention to want to read more....

Wisdom in Simple Words:

Courage
I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do.

Character
It is not fair to ask of others what you are unwilling to do yourself.

Decision Making
It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.

Character
People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.

Destiny
The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.

Attitude
We must want for others, not ourselves alone.

Beginning
With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.

Courage
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.

Action
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

These are words I feel strongly on and I hope a lot of women find their strength with these words also and what they stand for.





Author of Twelve Roses For Uretta by Arlene R. Crenshaw
http://www.mscrenshawbooks.com

My book can be purchased at lulu.com, lulu storefront and Amazon.com

Thursday, July 15, 2010

My quote of the day

Courage
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face...My quote of the day

Ms. Arlene R. Crenshaw featured at "Black Pearl Magazine"

Intimate Conversation with Arlene R. Crenshaw

BPM: Please tell us a little bit about yourself, Arlene.
I’m a 48 yr. old woman with one son and two grandchildren. I raised my son on my own. We struggled many of days but we made it. I am blessed in many ways and I'm so grateful. I lost my job about a year ago for something that was not my fault. It was difficult trying to find work after working for so many years. I prayed everyday for God to help me find something in this world that I would enjoy doing, and in a dream a voice came upon me (God) and said to me. “You are here for a purpose and it is to write and inspire people.” Something I’ve done all of my life…inspire people. Who would thought that I would be writing novels today, you see dreams do come true if you believe.

BPM: Tell us about your latest release, Twelve Roses For Uretta. 
The Book is called “Twelve Roses for Uretta” This is a true story of a mother’s struggle with domestic violence, while trying to raise her eight children. This story is told through the eyes of Uretta's daughter (Erica) who carried the burden of not being able to help her mother because she was just too young, plus Erica's own secret she was never able to tell her mother’ before her mother's untimely death.

BPM: What specific situation prompted you to write your book? 
My story is a true story and after the death of my mother, life was never the same for me again. For years I suffered with depression and anxiety because of my past. Finally one day I decided it was time to take control of my life and by doing that it prompted me to write my book “Twelve Roses For Uretta.” 

The book tells of the domestic abuse my mother endured from her husbands, and the secret her daughter Erica never got to tell her before her untimely death. The more I wrote my story the more I began to feel better about life. I started to notice that all the pain that was embedded within me and even the things in my life I blocked out, was now coming out and I felt renewed, then a sense of healing within. After all the adversity I had been through in my life, I was now starting to live my life, and know I live my life beyond adversity.


BPM: Who do you want to reach with Twelve Roses For Uretta and the message within? 
My book also brings about awareness to a problem that exists sometimes right under our noses, and many just ignore it sometimes to the point that it’s to late to recover. There are a lot of people that would like to ignore that domestic violence is present in their lives or a loved ones. I grew up around it, I’ve met many women who have gone through it and I know many who still do endure domestic violence everyday. My message is that love shouldn’t hurt, anyone who loves you wouldn’t do anything to damage you in anyway whether it’s mental or physically. Love shouldn’t hurt.

BPM: How will reading your book, Twelve Roses For Uretta, shape the readers lives? 
I hope by reading my story that it helps someone to think twice about being in a relationship that involves domestic violence and my greatest hope is that an abuser reads this novel and changes his or her ways…because you know that an abuser does not always have to be male. Love shouldn’t hurt.

BPM: What are some of their specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book? 
Two specific issues are “warning signs” most abusers love to be in “control” and they’ll work day and night on your “self-esteem” trying to destroy what ever fight or little fight you have to stand up for yourself, and break you down to your lowest point. Do not allow anyone to take your power.

BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases. 
I have a new book coming out July 2010, called “Hidden Closets” a book of fictional short stories. The stories will hit close to home for many!  This book journeys into the minds of people with jaw dropping hidden secrets. They never want people to know about their REAL side, for fearing of being exposed to their real truths. Visit my website for excerpts and other news.

BPM: How can our readers reach you online?
Readers can reach me at arlene_crenshaw@yahoo.com,  arlene crenshaw@facebook, and my website is http://www.mscrenshawbooks.com   I also post a daily quote on Facebook and Blogger I call it “My quote of the day” which I share everyday.  I try my best to inspire people to believe in themselves and to let no obstacle stand in their way, no matter how difficult life or challenges in life may seem.


Excerpt from Twelve Roses For Uretta by Arlene R. Crenshaw

For as long as I can remember, I witnessed the men in my momma’s life abuse her mentally and physically, these were men she swore to love, honor, and obey till death do them part. I was the third to the oldest of my momma’s eight children, and I started noticing the abuse on my momma when I was around four or five years old. I remember hearing her screaming from being beat up and this “boom booming,” sound as if something or someone was hitting walls or even being thrown or slammed into them, my name is Erica and this story is through my eyes. This is a true story about my momma and me together; and the years I grew up with her.
Why, did my momma have to cry and suffer so much in the name of love?

Growing up in my momma’s home was very uncomfortable, scary and traumatizing these uncomfortable feeling stayed with me day after day, year after year; these feelings were embedded deep in my mind, body and soul for a long as I could remember, not that I haven’t had my own issues to back me up, but growing up with my momma my, sisters, and brothers there were a lot of very painful times and so many memories that I’ll never forget. The things I heard, felt and saw started my life out as just plain old misery, sadness and traumatizing to my soul.


Pick up your copies of Twelve Roses For Uretta today!
ISBN-10: 0557309204 | ISBN-13: 978-0557309207

Twelve Roses For Uretta can be found at Amazon 
Twelve Roses For Uretta can be found at Lulu

Twelve Roses For Uretta can be found at my website 
http://www.mscrenshawbooks.com  and http://www.shaphire48.blogspot.com 

My quote of the day

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”...My quote of the day

My quote of the day

I know but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind...My quote of the day

Arlene R. Crenshaw featured on: A Moment With Mystee

Checkout my new poem featured today entitled "Look Well To This Day" today featured at

http://amomentwithmystee.blogspot.com

My quote of the day

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and
you help them to become what they are capable of being." ...My Quote of the day

My quote of the day

“May your days be many and your troubles be few. May all God's blessings descend upon you. May peace be within you may your heart be strong. May you find what you're seeking wherever you roam.” My quote of the day

My quote of the day

To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to...My quote of the day

My quote of the day

Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge and adding to your experience, so that you can make the most of opportunity when it occurs...My quote of the day

My quote of the day

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”...My quote of the day

My second quote of the day

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain and usher storms, but to add color to my sunset sky... My second quote for this day...God Bless!!! 

My quote of the day

The more we nurture our friendships, the greater the happiness that comes our way...My quote of the day

My quote of the day

“The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible...My quote of the day

Interview on BK Walker Muse 07/09/2010

Giveaway and Interview with Author Arlene Crenshaw

Please give a warm welcome to my guest Arelene Crenshaw,  author of Twelve Roses for Uretta.  This is a touching tale and I'm so happy to have Arelene here.  Thank you so much for stopping in Arlene.  Thank you for having me.


Please tell us a little bit about yourself.....

I’m a 48 yr woman with one son and two grandchildren, I raised my son on my own. We struggled many of days but we made it.  I blessed in so many ways.  I lost my job about a year ago for something that was not my fault.  It’s been difficult, finding work, and I prayed everyday for God to help me find something in this world I enjoyed doing, and in a dream a voice came upon me (God) and said to me. “You are here for a purpose and it is to write and inspire people.”  Something I’ve did all my life…inspire people, who would think that I would be writing novels today. Dreams do come true if you believe.


Is Twelve Roses for Uretta your first novel?

Yes it is, and I’m so very proud of myself.


What inspired you to pen this novel?

I had reached a point in my life that the pain became too much. I was tired of suffering mental and physically with my health and everyday life I was just plain unhappy no matter what I did or what other did for me. I realized I had be crying my entire life and sometimes I didn’t even understand why, so I decided It was time to go right to the cause and this was my way of healing within. Thank God, it worked now I feel like a whole new world has opened up to me.


Do you relate to your characters in any way?

In my book I am Erica who tells the story.


What was the hardest thing about writing this particular novel? 

This is a true story, the hardest thing was all the memories I had to deal with, and how the more I wrote the better I felt getting it all out of my system after 47 years of carrying this pain around. It was very hard for me but it was something I had to do for myself.  I wrote, I cried and I got it all out.  I got rid of the pain that claimed most of my life.


Have you received much controversy with this book?

If so, how do you handle it? I have… most people really enjoyed my book; they said it was a very emotional read. I did have some problems within my family, but I had to remind them this story was told through the eyes of a child.  It was not meant to hurt anyone, it was told for self healing and remembrance of someone that was so special to me.  And I also wrote it for awareness that things like this happen everyday, and It happens to those who you least expect it to happen to.  They just may be going through situation like in my book or going through something even worse.


What message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

My book “Twelve Roses for Uretta” takes this message seriously.  Love should not hurt and domestic violence can kill, don’t be a victim, there is always help. “Just reach out.”

What dreams have been realized as a result of your book being published?

My wildest dreams, that I able to do something wonderful and that is creative by me, something people enjoy and seem to really like and they want more and more.  I realized that dreams do come true.  I was once told that the only thing that comes to a dreamer is a dream.  Well I’m living proof that dreams do come true and I’m enjoying every bit of the ride.


Where do you hope your writing will take you in the future?

 I love writing I hope to put out as many books as I can but my goal is for someone out there to see my writing talent and pick me up to be one of the writers on HBO or Lifetime Channel.  I would love to be a writer on projects like 24, Treme, Flash Forward, Big Love or even True Blood I love those series.  Wish me luck…


Are you currently working on any new projects?

I’m always working on something, I have another book coming out in mid July 2010, a book of short stories and also I’m putting together another book for later this year.


What advice can you give to aspiring authors?

If people listen to what you say when you talk or even write it down, both in my case, and want more and more from you, give them what they want…write books.  I’ve always been told I was in the wrong career, which was the medical field all my life.  Then one day I decide to take charge of my life and do what I loved to do and that was.  “Write stories and quotes” and I do them both daily.


What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to know about you?

That would be I never thought I would be a writer. I can write stories all day but, my punctuation sucks…


Any events or news you would like to share with us today?

Yes, my next novel is called “Hidden Closets” due to be release the middle of July 2010.  This novel is a book of short stories about people’s hidden secrets that they keep hidden, and want to remain hidden.  There is a variety of stories that I challenged my self on, there is a lot of drama, suspense, comedy, and down right outrageous things that people hide. In this book, I really put secrets out there a truly must read.



Where can your readers connect with you?  Facebook, Myspace, Twitter?

I’m on facebook daily, where I do my daily quote of the day. I do that to encourage, enlighten, inspire and, motivate people to keep on keeping on, no matter how tough any situation in their lives may be, they can always come to my facebook for a quote of the day to be inspired. My website is http://www.mscrenshawbooks.com


Any parting comments?

Always inspire to be the best at whatever you are, and with you’re dreams there is no dream that can’t come true. It’s you’re world as well as mine spread your wings and soar high.


Thank you so much for taking time to chat with us today.

You’re so very welcome…stay blessed!

The Giveaway:

Leave a comment for Arlene and you will be entered into a drawing for a $10 Amazon Gift Card.  Drawing will be July 15.

Extra Entries:

• Become a follower of my blog via Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs (+2)
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• Share this giveaway,  and let me know where you posted it, or use share it in the side bar to the right (+2)

Please be sure to include your email so I have a way to contact you should you win.  Good luck!

My quote of the day

“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”My quote of the day

My quote of the day

“One of the greatest moments in anybody's developing experience is when he no longer tries to hide from himself but determines to get acquainted with himself as he really is”...My quote of the day