My Heart and Soul Virtual Book Tour April & May 2010

Join Marilyn Randall, author of the book of poetry & prose , My Heart and Soul, as she virtually tours the blogosphere in April & May 2010 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

About Marilyn Randall

Marilyn has always had an artistic ability, which she has used both professionally and personally over her lifetime. She was an art major in high school receiving a Penny Arts Scholarship award for her first oil painting and a Hallmark Honorable Mention award for her second oil painting which was exhibited in an art show in Portland, Oregon. She began her professional career as a graphic artist in 1976 when she was hired by Gandee Printing, a printing company in Medford, Oregon. She learned her craft quickly and thoroughly and within two years she became the Graphic Art Director and then the Graphic Production director for Moore Publications in Belleview, Washington after spending a year as a graphic artist for Seattle Menu Specialists in Seattle, Washington. During her time as graphic production Director, she was assigned major accounts and spent time traveling to different parts of the country to co-ordinate large art projects for wholesale clients. Later she moved to North Idaho where she again became the Art Director for a printing company in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Upon moving back to the Seattle area in 1985, she continued to work for printing companies as both art director and graphic production director until in 1990 when she opened her own graphic design business called Personal Touch Designs by Marilyn. Her business consisted of designing silkscreen art for ladies sweatshirts and other garments and free lance business logo design. She designed the “I’m Proud To Be An American” shirt that was purchased by NAS Whidbey, the Navel Air Station on Whidbey Island, during Operation Desert Storm. In 1993 she retired from her business and her professional career and started writing and illustrating for her own pleasure. Her first published book was titled “Feelings” and it was published in the early 1990’s, but it was a limited edition printing and because it was well received, it inspired her to pursue her dream of writing and illustrating her children’s books. Four of the children’s books were written and illustrated in 1995, yet they are being published for the first time today. Her newest books, “My Heart and Soul” and “Elmer The Christmas Elf” are a continuation of her earlier endeavors.

Her writings reflect her life story as she uses her craft to express her thoughts and feelings about not only her life events, but also about social issues in today’s world. She is a recovering alcoholic with 19+ years of sobriety, which she attributes completely to the success and many achievements she has accomplished. Her life struggles range from sexual abuse issues beginning in her childhood to the devastating loss of family members and eventually the loss of her spouse who succumbed to cancer after a long, seven year battle with that dreaded disease, which took it’s toll on her life and health as well. Remaining steadfastly faithful and God inspired has been the key to carry her through some very difficult life experiences. She maintains a positive attitude today with an open and loving heart and when life becomes difficult as it sometimes does, she continues to stay upbeat and positive, always expressing her message of hope and steadfastness and never giving up.

Her children’s books especially reflect a strong morale attitude with positive answers to today’s life situations, which are faced daily by today’s youth. Teaching children about faith and learning to cope with troubles in a positive and healthy way are inspirations she hopes to help instill in our families struggling with today’s issues. Her stories are about coping with fear, greed, vanity and patience, always with a positive outcome to the story and in ways that children can understand and put to use with their own situations. The poetry format of all her children’s stories retains the charm and rhythms which children love to both read for themselves or hear read to them. These delightful stories have been well received by those who have read them, while they and others anxiously await the publication of her newest story, written and illustrated this year. All are charming in their own right and will delight any child as well as some adults.

Marilyn’s latest book is My Heart and Soul, a poetry and prose collection.  You can visit her website at www.marilynrandall.com.

My Heart and Soul by Marilyn Randall (click on cover to purchase at Amazon)

About My Heart and Soul

Marilyn Randall writes about social issues facing society in today’s world. She uses powerful emotion to share her thoughts and ideas about alcoholism recovery, sexual abuse issues, interracial relationships and relationships experienced at a senior time of her life. She writes about loss, and times in her life when her family played a huge role in forming the person she later became as an adult. She shares prayers she writes and uses to help her overcome some of the more difficult happenings of her life. This compilation of works is a tribute to overcoming obstacles and learning to never give up while maintaining a steadfast faith and belief in God.

Read the Excerpt!

Here’s what critics have to say!

I recommend this book for those going through life’s challenges, those who love poetry and actually I recommend this book to everyone. Way to go Marilyn for overcoming all of the things that life has thrown at you. You are a true survivor of many things.

–Chrissy’s World of Books (read review here)

My Heart and Soul Tour Schedule

Monday, April 5
Book spotlighted at Examiner

Tuesday, April 6
Book reviewed at Chrissy’s World of Books

Wednesday, April 7
Interviewed at Beyond the Books

Thursday, April 8
Interviewed at Blogcritics

Friday, April 9
Guest blogging at Night Owl Reviews

Tuesday, April 13
Interviewed at The Writer’s Life

Wednesday, April 14
Guest blogging at The Story Behind the Book

Monday, April 19
Book reviewed at Simply Stacie

Tuesday, April 20
Interviewed at As the Pages Turn

Wednesday, April 21
Interviewed at Working Writers

Thursday, April 22
Guest blogging at The Book Connection

Friday, April 23
Interviewed at Literarily Speaking

Monday, April 26
Guest blogging at Glamourastic Eats

Tuesday, April 27
Interviewed at Book Marketing Buzz

Thursday, April 29
Guest blogging at Life in the First Draft

Friday, April 30
Book reviewed at DK’s Book Reviews

Monday, May 3
Book spotlighted at Between the Covers

Tuesday, May 4
Interviewed at Pump Up Your Book

Wednesday, May 5
Book reviewed at Star Shadow

Friday, May 7
Interviewed at The Hot Author Report

Monday, May 10
Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking

Thursday, May 13
Guest blogging at Blogging Authors

Friday, May 14
Guest blogging and book giveaway at This Book For Free

Monday, May 17
Book reviewed at Rundpinne

Tuesday, May 18
Guest blogging at Beyond the Books

Wednesday, May 19
Guest blogging at Island Chick Travels

Thursday, May 20
Book reviewed at Working Writers

Friday, May 21
Book reviewed and book giveaway at The Life (and lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object

Monday, May 24
Book spotlighted at A Book Blogger’s Diary

Tuesday, May 25
Guest blogging at The Book Faery Reviews

Thursday, May 27
Interviewed at American Chronicle

Friday, May 28
Book reviewed and book giveaway at DK’s Book Reviews
Book reviewed at Pump Up Your Book

Marilyn Randall’s MY HEART AND SOUL VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR ‘10 will officially begin on April 5  and end on May 28 2010.  Please contact Dorothy Thompson at thewriterslife@yahoo.com  if you are interested in hosting and/or reviewing her book during her virtual book tour or click here to use the form.  Thank you!