Finally Publishing a Book!!!

Kickstarter: Hidden Identities

I put together and launched a Kickstarter to help fund the publishing of my first book! Kickstarter is a crowdfunding website that helps people fund special projects. How does it work? Well, first of all you need people to back your project. If you click the link below, you will see a description of my publishing project as well as different pledges you can make that coincide with different rewards. The project goal is $2,000.00. That's what I need to publish through Outskirts Press with only the most basic package and basic marketing options. 

If the minimum goal gets backed by friends, family, and the book's supporters, then no more waiting, the book is getting published. After the minimum goal is hit, people can still continue to back the book. This is what Kickstarter calls "Stretch Goals". You label stretch goals for the backers offering more rewards for stretch goals reached. 

Any extra money made through this Kickstarter will go towards marketing, upgrades on publishing options, and making the book launch party more awesome! 

If you want to know more about my new book, then check out my Kickstarter page, please click the link below and check it out. If you can't or don't want to help me out with this project. That's perfectly okay, but I'd love it if you'd at least share the link on social media or with friends or family who might be interested in the genre to help spread the word. 

Thanks for supporting me and my first book!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1304829922/hidden-identities-by-amanda-germaine

Behind the Closed Door

Behind the Closed Door Writing Exercise

Little did I know that when I Stepped through the big wooden door in the banquet hall that I would be in a brand new world. Everything seemed different, but also so the same, Everything seemed a bit brighter here. 

The colors were brighter as if the sun had made them more beautiful. There didn’t seem to be any houses, but there was a bright sparkling path that looked like newly laid cement on a sunny day, and along the path were miles and miles of rolling hills covered in over sized brightly colored flowers. 

As I wondered at this beautiful world and smiled at its beauty and brightness, I suddenly heard the door shut behind me and then disappear leaving a vision of sky and grasses behind it. The weird thing is, I did not panic, I actually felt nothing but happiness and contentedness within this world, and didn’t have any need or want to leave.  

I left behind a world of darkness and broken buildings and death all around. There was nothing left behind me and all this beauty in front of me.  Instead of thinking of what I left behind, I started walking forward and exploring this wonderfully interesting and bright place and was excited to find my next adventure. 

How to Get a Better Job

Step One: Pinpoint what it is about your job that you don't like. 

"There is a light at the end of the tunnel."

We all apply and interview for jobs that match our skill set and background. Sometimes we may even take a step further and research what the job is all about by doing an informative interview with the hiring manager or reading the job description online. Once we think we understand what are position will be, we take the job happily thinking that it matches everything that we want and that it will be a perfect fit. This is not always the case. Even if you feel you understand the job completely, hiring managers will often leave out some of the negatives about the job in order to get someone hired. As a hiring manager myself, I try to be honest with those that I employ because I'd rather they stuck around and didn't just quit because I wasn't honest with them. However, I have also experienced management that have left parts of the job out of the explanation, in order to get me hired. 

Now the unfair part of this situation for the employee is that you won't find out about these negatives until after you have quit your other job and have started working there. You may not even find out about these negatives until after a few months of being on the job. So, what do you do then?? You are feeling like you are feeling stuck with the job that was handed to you on a not so silver platter. Well, you are not stuck. It will just take some extra effort to find something better. 

First, take a piece of paper and a pen and create a pros and cons list. What do you love about this job, and what do you hate? 

Step Two: Take your list and start searching for a job that has more of the qualities that you like and/or need and less of the qualities that you don't like or don't need. 

Now it is time to start your search. You can do this in a number of ways. 

* If you want out of your job right away, I would suggest signing on with a temp agency that will help you find a job that is a good fit for you. Research the companies first and make sure they are committed to finding you a good fit and that the types of jobs they have available fit with what you want to be doing. If you take this route, someone else will do the work for you and the best part is, if you hate the job or the place of work, you don't have to stay. 

* You could do an internet search. Search for jobs that you think might have the qualities you are looking for. Do the research, read the job descriptions in detail and ask the hiring manager or someone else doing that same job if they'd be willing to talk do you about what the job entails. Get as much information as you can before you even apply. 

* Hire a Career Counselor or a Recruiter. This option costs money, but if you've been having trouble finding a job that fits your needs, it might be find to hire a professional. 

Step Three: Pick 5 jobs to apply for, write or have a resume created for all five jobs separately.

Once you have done your research and found a few jobs to apply for, it is time to get your resumes and cover letters ready. You will want to create a resume that caters to each job separately as well as a new cover letter for each. Even if you are applying for similar jobs, companies are often looking for different things in a new employee so catering the resume and cover letter to show that you can take care of that specific company's needs will go a long way.

Step Four: Send out your resume to the hiring manager or human resources department.

Pinpoint who the contact person is for the job. Often times you are just sending your resume to Human Resources, but other times they will list an actual hiring manager. Figure out who to contact and follow their instructions. 

Step Five: Follow up and Repeat. 

Haven't heard anything for a few days, contact human resources and ask about the status of your application. This can often get your foot in the door. If you don't hear a thing from any of the resumes that you sent out. Start over again and keep doing this until you find a job that is better suited for you. Just don't give up. You can also send out emails or messages over social media to reach out to friends and family who may have some connections for you. Maybe a friend of yours has worked with a great career counselor and is now happily placed with a job they love or maybe a family member can be a reference for you for their company. You never know what kinds of connections you can make through social media.

Poetry From My Teenage Years Entry #2

This Ain't The Thing To Do

You always told me it would be okay
You said it didn't matter
You told me you would always love me
Now, it's not love your after
I was such a fool to believe it was true
I was such a fool to believe in you

You know what you're doing
Aint the thing to do
Now it's I who has to say goodbye
Leaving me all confused
I thought I would always lov eyou
But I guess we're through

You said I was the only one
The only one you laid your eyes upon
Now I know it was all a lie
Now what should I do about me and you
The answer seems so far away
Will you even listen to what I have to say

Someday I'll find the one that's true
The one that will say "I do"
And then I will be strong in will
To not just stay around til I've had my fill
All you've ever done is told me lies
And now it's time I've said my goodbyes

- Amanda Olson Copyright 1999

Poetry From MyTeenage Years

You'll Come Back to Me

I look into the night time sky and see a shooting star
I wonder if you see it too, standing where you are
We've been together now so long its hard to be apart
I think your coming back real soon I can see it in my heart

I'll wish upon a shooting star, that you are missing me
And no matter how far away you are 
That you'll come back to me

And so I sit here all alone
with darkness all around me
Remembering the sweet smell of your cologne
I now that someday you'll come back
I know you watch the same big sky
but its your love I lack
I'm afraid to find
When we meet again
That I'm not on your mind

I'll wish upon a shooting star 
that you are missing me
and no matter how far away you are
that you'll come back to me

-Amanda Olson Copyright 1998

Heartfelt Autism Quotes

Heartfelt Autism Quotes

“We don’t know how strong we are until being strong is the only choice we have” Autism Awareness

“Always Unique Totally Interesting Sometimes Mysterious”

“I don’t think the worst thing that could happen to me is raising a child with special needs. I think the worst thing is to raise a child who is cruel to those with special needs.”

“Autism is not a choice, acceptance is. Imagine if the opposite was true.”

“My child has Autism, what’s your kid’s super power?”

“It seems that for success in Science or art a dash of Autism is essential” Hans Asperger

“Why fit in, when you were born to STAND OUT!” –Dr. Seuss

“Yes, I have Autism, Stare if you must, I’m not paying attention to you anyway.”

“I thought I would have to teach my child about the world. It turns out I have to teach the world about my child.”

“A child with Autism is not ignoring you, they are simply waiting for you to enter their world.”

“What would happen if the Autism gene was eliminated from the gene pool? You would have a bunch of people standing around in a cave, chatting, and socializing and not getting anything done.”

Signs and Symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome

Asperger’s syndrome is a mild form of Autism. The symptoms can sometimes be barely noticeable, and others might just see the individual as odd. Here are some signs and symptoms to look out for.

1. Eye Contact

Those with Asperger’s may either stare at you for long periods of time or they may avoid eye contact completely. Each case is different and depends on the individual.

2. May have difficulty learning motor skills. 

You might notice that a person with Asperger’s walks funny or has trouble holding a spoon. These are motor skills that usually come easily to a normally functioning individual.

3. They may dislike any changes in routine and may or may not throw a tantrum about it. That depends on the individual.

4. They may only be interested in a few things or maybe just one thing and will have trouble focusing on anything else.

5. They might talk a lot about themselves and not be aware as how to effectively listen.

6. They will take things literally. 

If someone tries to make a joke or be sarcastic with them, they might not understand that it is a joke or that it is sarcasm, they will take it literally.

7. May have a difficult time picking up on basic social cues.

8. Strange movements or facial expressions.