Extraordinary Life Lesson Speech: Admiral McRaven’s 2014 Commencement Address at UT Austin
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Extraordinary Life Lesson Speech: Admiral McRaven’s 2014 Commencement Address at UT Austin

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My father was career Navy, an enlisted man, a chief. He was a difficult man and not a particularly good one, but I was, and am, proud of his record of service to this country.

So when someone suggested that I google the commencement speech by a Navy Seal about making your bed to be successful in life, I was intrigued. I googled and found this wonderful video. I’m glad I followed through.

Admiral McRaven’s words go directly to the core of life: sustaining hope, not giving up, respecting other people, enduring failure and coming back from it, taking risks, and paying attention to the little things.

I’ve been making my bed in the morning in a casual way for a long time, but after listening to this speech, I’ll be taking a more formal approach to square corners and linens drawn tight.

Beautiful Review of BROKEN on Tometender.blogspot.com
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Beautiful Review of BROKEN on Tometender.blogspot.com

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So it’s my first public review of BROKEN, and it’s beautiful! It’s on one of my most favorite book review blogs, TomeTender.

Here is part of the review:

Don’t expect a normal run-of-the-mill fallen angel tale that zooms on past, settle in for a deep thinking read to savor and get lost in. Traci L. Slatton has added her own artistic touch as she paints a deeply moving and unique tale filled with dark drama as we are invited to feel Alia’s feelings, hear her thoughts and see the world through her eyes as the scenery changes with each detailed page. Ms. Slatton has taken on a dark time in history and brought it to life through her characters and her words, lavish with intense prose and emotion. 

Now this is why I write novels!

Read the whole review here, on the extraordinary TomeTender Blog.

BROKEN on Tometender
Coast Guard Beach: Bliss
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Coast Guard Beach: Bliss

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It’s not summer for me unless I spend at least a few days on a beach. Now that I have reached a certain age, I swathe my face in extreme sunblock, a hat, and even a shirt wrapped to block those wrinkle-causing UV rays. But the rest of me is exultantly ravished by the sun. The waves roll and lull me into a heavenly drowse. My limbs get heavy with salty sea air and heat. I am recharged and renewed. Bliss.

Of all beaches, the magical National Seashore at the Cape owns the biggest real estate in my heart. So imagine my keen delight when my cranky but beloved friend Paul invited us to Truro.

This year, the dynamic shoreline has sculpted itself into an inner moat and a berm set out from the shore. There’s a long natural sea pool for swimming, which is a gift. The exploding seal population on the Cape has invited in sharks, including Great Whites. I prefer not to tempt them, in case my wiggling silhouette puts them in mind of a struggling seal. I hear that Great Whites like to tear out the belly of the seal and gobble down the slithery, oily, tasty innards.

The sea is a place of primal experiences. We are primal creatures with salt water in our cells. Beaches are an integral part of who we are.

 

Feb Blog Tour for THE LOVE OF MY (OTHER) LIFE
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Feb Blog Tour for THE LOVE OF MY (OTHER) LIFE

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My uber-wonderful PR lady Sarah has been rockin’ and rollin’ on a Feb blog tour for my new novella, THE LOVE OF MY (OTHER) LIFE.

Here are the dates and blogs:

2/1: CHICK LIT PLUS (chicklitplus.com) for BOOK REVIEW
2/2: MY FICTION NOOK (http://myfictionnook.com) – for GUEST POST  + E-BOOK GIVEAWAY
2/3: THE BOOKMARK BLOG (http://www.mybookmarkblog.com/) for BOOK REVIEW
+ E-BOOK GIVEAWAY
2/4: SIMPSON’S PARADOX (http://simpsonsparadox.com) for BOOK REVIEW + EBOOK
GIVEAWAY
2/5: OPEN
2/6: OPEN
2/7: OPEN
2/8: OPEN
2/9: OPEN
2/10: TIFFANY TALKS BOOKS (http://tiffanytalksbooks.com/) for BOOK REVIEW+ GUEST
POST + E-BOOK GIVEAWAY
2/11: SALACIOUS READS (http://www.salaciousreads.com/) for AUTHOR INTERVIEW + E-BOOK GIVEAWAY
2/12: TALK SUPE (http://www.talkingsupe.com/) for BOOK REVIEW + AUTHOR
INTERVIEW + GUEST POST + E-BOOK GIVEAWAY
2/13: MY SECRET ROMANCE BOOK REVIEWS
(http://www.mysecretromancebookreviews.com/) for BOOK REVIEW + E-BOOK GIVEAWAY
2/14: BOOK NERD ASH (http://booknerdash.blogspot.com) for BOOK REVIEW +
GUEST POST + E-BOOK GIVEAWAY
2/15: OPEN
2/16: NIGHTSTAND NOVELS (http://nightstandnovels.com/) for BOOK REVIEW +
AUTHOR INTERVIEW + E-BOOK GIVEAWAY
2/17: LIVE READ BREATHE (http://livereadbreathe.blogspot.com) for BOOK REVIEW +
GUEST POST + E-BOOK GIVEAWAY
2/18: LILY’S REVIEWS (http://lilysreviews.xanga.com/) for BOOK REVIEW + GUEST
POST + E-BOOK GIVEAWAY
2/19: THE WINDY PAGES (http://www.thewindypages.com/) for BOOK REVIEW + EBOOK
GIVEAWAY
2/20: BOOK TO BOOK REVIEWS (http://booktobookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/) for
BOOK REVIEW + E-BOOK GIVEAWAY
2/21: OPEN
2/22: OPEN
2/23: OPEN
2/24: OPEN
2/25: OPEN
2/26: OPEN
2/27: OPEN
2/28: OPEN
2/29: OPEN

How fun is this blog tour, with all these lively blogs?! I can’t wait!

For any bloggers who might like to book an open day, here’s the link to a google doc to fill out online.

The latest offering from critically acclaimed author and Yale and Columbia graduate Traci L. Slatton, The Love Of My (Other) Life follows the beguiling and uncompromising Tessa Barnum, a 30-something would-be painter struggling to find her rightful place in the city that never sleeps: the ever-bustling, always-magical backdrop of New York City. Frustrated by a world that champions meaningless post-modernism and money over truth, beauty and transcendence, Tessa is about to be evicted, too insecure in her own talent to let her Turner-esque landscapes leave her closet, and emotionally exhausted by a recent divorce. When she is suddenly faced with Brian Tennyson behind every corner – a disheveled yet devilishly handsome man who, out of virtually nowhere, claims to not only be a Yale physics professor who has uncovered a gap in the time-space continuum, but also her husband in an alternate universe (!) – Tessa finds herself on a rollercoaster ride the likes of which she never in her wildest dreams imagined she would have to be prepared for. A touching and immersive portrait of a young woman reconciling her passions, convictions and realities with an impossible love story unfolding around her, The Love Of My (Other) Life is a surprising, funny and engrossing addition to any romance lover’s bookshelf, digital or otherwise.

And a few comments from the latest bright and engaging Goodreads review:
“This book is nerdy and artsy and quirky and funny and endearing….
 
“Tessa is a big-hearted artist with some personal demons and a single digit checking account. Brian is a genius physicist from a parallel universe – of course she thinks he’s a crazy homeless man, albeit one with a certain appeal. Their series of interactions is madcap and harebrained, yet delightful.
 

“But even in the throes of despair, grief and pain, they are vibrant and full of life. The end is wonderful and gives the whole story a soulfulness that it totally earned….”

Happy Graduation
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Happy Graduation

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Happy Graduation

Happy Graduation
My brilliant and beautiful step-daughter graduated from Johns Hopkins University last week. She’s continuing on to the molecular biology and immunology program at the Bloomberg School, and from there to medical school. We’re very proud of her.
But even the joy of her accomplishments is eclipsed by something: her loveliness of spirit. Julia has worked with diligence and commitment to achieve her rite of passage. She’s shown a gift for deferred gratification, long-term goal-making, and personal sacrifice. More than that, she’s kind-hearted and grateful, loving and sweet-natured. It was exquisite happiness to share her moment with her.
Fun with my friends
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Fun with my friends

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My friend Michelle Czernin makes great parties. She made one in New York City for a splendid young man, Europe’s hottest rising opera star, Daniel Serafin. I invited another friend, Debra Jaliman, author of the wildly popular SKIN RULES. Here we are….

photo credit: MC O’Conner/Savvy Shooter Media