Audio Books - Thanks for Listening

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Of my 28 paperbacks available on all Amazon sites, five of them are also available at Audibles, Itunes, and Amazon as audio books.    Thanks for checking them out.  

These five titles are available in kindle, paperback, and audiobook formats.

Check out my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Almost Time to Leave

 

                                                                   

       

I spent most of this day pounding the keys on my laptop.  So far, I have 16,418 words written in my current work in progress titled Almost Time to Leave.

This past year my creative writing achievements were two books for children: one titled "One Day With Misty" and the other, "Elephant and the Bumbly Bee".

These children's books indicate that I am not ignoring creative writing which has always been my passion, but I confess to being and feeling more scattered this year.   I've been finding it difficult to dedicate myself to heads down and typing.  It has been much easier to pick up the brush and paint or to fill my hands with clay wondering what I can possibly create.

I am very aware of my scattering.   This morning I made a decision, one that I hope I will keep, and that is to return my focus to creative writing.  I really do want to get "Almost Time to Leave" completed.  I have been, off and on, working on it for about one year now and its current 16,418 words mean that I am very far from completion.

I began seriously writing creatively eighteen years ago and I now have 28 published paperbacks, 5 audio books, and many more kindle offerings.  I have always been grateful to my home town supporters who buy and read my books, and I'm also grateful to those who buy my books online from Amazon.

Many years ago a friend talked to me about the importance of being one-eyed.  In other words to be focused.  I have been much too scattered this year; attempting to do too many things, going in too many directions.  In the process, I have been ignoring many aspects of my life that have always been meaningful and important.

In order to be a writer, I need to spend time alone at home.  

I have decided that once this weekend is over, I will do just that.   Some activities will need to be put on hold.   So, if I should tell you that I will no longer be doing this, or doing that, thank you for understanding.  It's not that I haven't been enjoying all the this and that.  It's that there are just too many of them.

November is a new month.  NaNoWriMo takes place in November.

I plan to take my 16,418 words into this NaNo event with the aim of bringing the total up to at least 50,000 words.

This writer needs to be one-eyed and focused.   Wish me good luck.     

Thanks for checking out my books at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

UPDATE:  After writing this blog article, I attempted to go to NaNoWriMo to get myself registered for the 2025 event.  No one is more shocked and surprised to learn that, apparently due to some scandal in 2025, NaNoWriMo is no more.   Hmm!  So much for my plan but this is actually very interesting because it is a reminder to me that life is and always will be unpredictable. Now that NaNoWriMo is out of the picture for me, I need to be able to find myself another more predictable and reliable method to fulfill my goal of completing the manuscript.  Again, wish me luck!  Thank  you.  

I Give Thanks

 

"There is Still No Room at the Inn"

When I painted this picture just last week, in my mind I was thinking of the many refugees around our broken world, and of the many who are suffering without proper housing, food, and other basic necessities of life because of natural disaster or war.

I wasn't thinking of Canadian citizens living in Toronto or Thunder Bay or Elliot Lake.

I'm a proud Canadian living in Canada, and I am thankful that I, and also my family members, are doing okay.  That is not to say we don't sometimes have our struggles, our limitations, our problems to solve.  But we all have a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes to wear, and love to share.

Very recently, in fact just yesterday, I was introduced to chrismustlist through his many videos about homelessness and drug addiction in our beautiful province and throughout the country.

I am aware, with the outrageous cost of housing, the increasing number of souls becoming addicted to life-crushing drugs, that homelessness is on the rise.  At least, I thought I was aware, but watching the videos last evening about Sudbury, London, Thunder Bay, and Toronto shocked me.  

I've often asked how are people, especially young families, managing to live.   How tough it must be to try to get ahead when the outrageous costs of housing and groceries are so very challenging and, for too many, simply out of reach.

I've often asked how is a senior trying to live on OAS and maybe some CPP able to pay for an apartment when rent is equal to income, especially in Canada's larger centres.

Yes, my painting is about refugees.  Imagine being a Canadian citizen living in this rich country of Canada with a lifestyle no easier than that of a refugee.  Imagine a man or a woman who have worked hard their entire lives and struggled to raise a family.   Imagine these people, now in their 'golden years', being forced to sleep in a shop's doorway or in a tent throughout cold Canadian winters.  They never claimed large incomes.  They, like so many, lived pay cheque to pay cheque, never earning enough to buy a home or to accumulate any savings.  Yet, somehow they managed to get by.  And now, with the outrageous rental rates, these Canadian seniors find themselves living on the street.

Watching chrismustlist videos about the homelessness in our Canadian cities made me feel ashamed; ashamed that this has been allowed to happen.

This is Thanksgiving weekend.  I have much reason to feel gratitude.  

I have a thousand questions.  But I don't have a single answer.

In this year of 2025, have we learned nothing about empathy, caring, compassion?  Even in our small town of Elliot Lake, I'm told there are those who are homeless.  I do know that there are many seniors who struggle and who, each month, have little food on the table once they have paid their rent.  

How very sad that in this 21st century, there is still no room at the inn.

I hope, for you, that it is a very happy Thanksgiving.  There is always something to be grateful for.

As tough as it is for many in this country, I believe we are more fortunate than most countries in our broken world.   But what is this saying about our world?

No, this is not the first or only time citizens have been tested.  Yes, during the Great Depression, people suffered greatly. There was no health care, no benefits, no welfare, no help.  

Today we have health care, we have child care benefits, we have dental care, we have ODSP, we have some geared-to-income housing, and other benefits to assist families.   

All these government programmes are, I hope, helping the situation but when a soul is homeless, with no address, how can he have access to these benefits?   And even those who receive benefits are receiving a bandaid when surgery is needed.  

I've heard it said that those receiving benefits are not encouraged to work, to earn, because any dollars they may be able to bring in are deducted from their benefits.  How can anyone get ahead if this is the way things are?

The working poor usually manage somehow to get through life.  It's never easy, but it's proven that it can be done.  But when the working poor reach retirement age with no bank account, no property, they are expected to live on the small amount of OAS and CPP; expected to survive when their basic living expenses exceed their income.  These people worked hard all their lives.  How sad if their reward for their labour is walking cold city streets, living in a car or a tent, or  finding a shop's doorway to catch some sleep.

I don't have an answer.   But, surely, we can do better.

"There, but for the grace of God, go I."

My Author Profile :-)

 

This summer of twenty-five I celebrated my eighteenth creative writing anniversary. During all these years I've been privileged to write and publish many books which are all available exclusively on all Amazon sites. Very recently, in 2024, I was blessed to enjoy my entrance into the world of books for children. "One Day With Misty" .... My newest venture into the world of books for children! From the moment she awakens, Misty shares her story. It's not easy to be sent to a shelter in your old age. She's happy to share the experience with Orange Cat, but feels lonely when he is soon adopted. Finally, she finds her forever home. Oh, the trials of trying to train a new owner! But Misty prevails and this story book for young readers has a very happy ending. "One Day With Misty" is for the young and for the young at heart. Very young readers will love "Elephant and the Bumbly Bee" and also "The Last Drop". For readers 10 years of age to adult, you will love "Beyond the Blue". "Shhh! We Don't Talk About That" is comprised of metaphysical, spiritual, and paranormal memories that I am pleased to share with my readers. "POartRY and Prose" is the first book in a series. Just as its title suggests this publication is comprised of several of my many paintings displayed with my poetry and prose. "More POartRY and Prose" has been recently released and it is the second book in this series. I am currently working on the third in this series and it will be titled "POartRY and Prose the Third". "STRUGGLE - To Reach the Bridge of Light" is a science-fiction novel. Mother Earth can take no more. It's a sad day when a mother must give up on her children. Like the phoenix, the spirit and the environment of earth rise leaving behind destruction and devastation. The chosen seven are truly amazed when they discover why they have been rescued. I wrote two novels during the isolation caused by the covid pandemic. One was "STRUGGLE - To Reach the Bridge of Light" The other was titled "The Observer - His Eye Is on the Sparrow". "The Observer - His Eye Is On The Sparrow" is a story of three generations of women, yet the story of two souls. Karina, Anna, and Karen, three very different personalities yet each, while dealing with her own struggles, continues to repeat family patterns. This story, begun in a NaNoWriMo adventure will touch your emotions and leave you with a smile. The settings of Bangalore, India and Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada share little in common; each offering its own colour and character. This is my first novel to focus on religion; in this instance the religions of Christianity and Hinduism. "No Place to Lay Her Head ... a handful of moments" is available in paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon. In this book I share my journey through grief since the death of my partner, Brian. This book is cathartic but I hope of benefit to anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one. Short story titled "The Man On The Bench" is a metaphysical delight. It is one of many short stories that dare to stand alone in the Kindle site. You will also want to check out "DRAMA - a Novel Idea" which is a boxed set of my most popular novels: "Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy"; "Ellen and The Hummingtree"; and "Sara, a Canadian Saga". While individual novels are available in both paperback & Kindle formats; DRAMA is available in Kindle format only. "Simply BE" is a collection of inspirational thoughts, quotations, and sayings, that I hope will offer the reader inspiration and guidance. This book is currently used as an aid in meditation and healing circles and will, I hope, inspire you to be who you really are. My first book of poems is titled "Poetry From A to Z" is followed by "POartRY and PROSE" & "MORE POartRY & PROSE". "Dinner At Seven" is, I'm excited to announce, my fifteenth book but also my very first romance novel. Crabapple Court is a mystery story in novella format. Susie Donnelly is missing. Has she run away? Is it a kidnapping? A murder? "Beyond The Blue" is a coming-of-age novella in which a child finds a magical, mystical way to deal with bullying. This novella is also in both Paperback and Kindle format. More recently this book has been published in audio book format narrated by Earl Sewell and available on Amazon, Itunes, and Audibles. "When God Gives Us Spring" is a story of love, hate & revenge that takes place pre and during civil war in the U.S. This novella is available in paperback, kindle, and audio book format. "Recompense" is a recent novella that explores "older" people in the "new world" of chat room dating. A bit of a farce this one provides some enjoyable reading. Prior to these publications I was kept busy with the creation, compilation and publication of a trilogy of anthologies containing short stories which keep the focus on social issues. The books are titled "SOCIAL STUDIES - Book One - Dying To Be Popular"; "Book Two - Shattered and Broken"; "Book Three - Weaving Alice". These thirty-six stories will make you laugh; make you cry; and certainly make you simply wonder at the human condition as it is experienced by many in our modern contemporary world. "Keeping It Simple", the trinity of meditation, the seven major chakras and psychospiritual therapy, is available in both Kindle and Paperback Format on all Amazon sites. It is my hope that one day I will have learned enough to narrate this book and transform it into an audio book. My first novel, "Sara, a Canadian Saga", is available in paperback and kindle formats. It has been released as my first audio book; written by yours truly; narrated by Falon Echo; and the cover design by Susan RK of Yuneekpix dot com. This audio book is available on Amazon; Audibles; and ITunes. I'm thrilled to announce that "When God Gives Us Spring" is my second book to be released as an audio book. This audio book is written by yours truly; narrated by Earl Sewell; and the beautiful cover design is by Susan RK of Yuneekpix dot com It is available on Amazon; Audibles; and ITunes. Currently five of my many books are available in audiobook format. These five are "Sara, a Canadian Saga", When God Gives Us Spring", "Reawakening", "Moose Road, a Canadian Tragedy", and "Beyond the Blue". Whether you choose my poetry; or an anthology; one of my novels, a novella, or a short story I hope you enjoy your reading experience. Thank you to my readers. I much appreciate your encouragement and your support. I hope you know that your positive reviews are much needed and very welcome.

My Publications

 Eighteen years ago my first novel, "Sara, a Canadian Saga" was published by Wynterblue Publishing Company. This company published several more of my books until, sadly, the company was no longer operating. That's when I took the plunge and taught myself how to self-publish. I had past editing experience which helped, but it was a brand new learning curve.

 I currently have 28 paperback publications available on all Amazon sites in both Kindle and Paperback with five of them also in audiobook format. In addition, I have a small army of short stories that dare to stand alone in the Kindle Store. 

Today I have two manuscripts waiting for me to pay more attention to them. It's true that folk art paintings and, more recently, working with clay take up a lot of my spare time, but I will return to these manuscripts and plan to complete them both - just not sure when. 

I also have poetry published by White Mountain Publishing Company and also by the Ontario Poetry Society, and many of my short stories are in anthologies published by Wynterblue Publishing Company.

 There are those who have, in my opinion, the wrong idea about self-published books. Much of my writing has been edited and published by publishing companies. Those self-published are not less valid because they are independently published. I love independent film making; self-taught musicians, artists of all kinds.  I love Indie Authors and I love being one of them.   

Thanks for visiting my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin 

Air Dry Clay & Acrylic Paint

I've many books published.  I've many canvases painted.  And now I'm having fun with a new interest, working with air dry clay & acrylic paint.

I've never worked with clay before.   My dear mother used to tell me, "If you want something done, simply begin."   And that's exactly what I have done.  I've created four objects so far; a little mother with her baby; an Easter basket; my totem which is a turtle; and I've just completed a very rustic circle of friends.

My books are available in kindle, paperback, and some in audiobook format, on all Amazon sites.  My author's page is found at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

My paintings are found at  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556156160963    and all are for sale.  Prices are dependent upon size of the canvas.

And I have a page for my new interest of working with clay and you will find it at https://www.facebook.com/working.with.clayfolk.art.by.audrey.austin/

 

Prolific Paintings

I have lived my life surrounded by talented artists. My brother, Ken, painted lovely oil landscapes. Both daughters are very talented in multi-media art. My sister, Linda, creates beautiful quilts and handbags while my sister, Muriel, was a folk artist. My much-missed partner, Brian, was a very talented artist who created amazing detailed paintings, stained glass works, and beautiful wood-turned creations.

I love all these talented artists.

Apart from the fact that throughout my life I've always kept busy with work, I never attempted to paint anything because I knew I could never create anything as lovely as my family members were creating. I believed my attempts could never be good enough. So, I am a little embarrassed to admit that I didn't even try.

This kind of negative thinking was something that I finally decided to throw out the window in my senior years. But it happened in an unusual way.

My dear Brian was, sadly, experiencing a slow recovery after a motor vehicle accident. He seemed to be losing interest in life. I had an ulterior motive when I purchased the big old dining table on the buy/sell site. I had it set up in our family room in the basement, covered it with plastic and arranged painting easels at either end of the table. I set out two painting stations - one for me, and one for Brian.

My thought was that, if I share the painting adventure with Brian, the companionship might encourage him to start painting his beautiful pictures again.

Brian did once again create some beautiful work, thankfully. His wood turning, his stained glass, his paintings - all were lovely. His work was of a high standard and he enjoyed sales in the Sault Ste Marie gallery in the U.S. This pleased me, but didn't surprise me.

What surprised me was that I was having a good time playing with these colours. I soon realized that I was almost as prolific with my painting as I was with my creative writing. I was a folk artist and loving the adventure. I was hooked.

I love my painting adventure! I've received no training but I've discovered that if I start painting at 9 a.m., before I know it, it's after 1 p.m., yet I feel as though I've been painting for 20 minutes. Time simply disappears.

I'm running out of walls for all my paintings, both oil and acrylic. No one is more surprised or happy knowing that someone else has liked something I painted. I am overjoyed to say that, as of today, I have sold twenty-four paintings.

All my folk art paintings are for sale. I've sold a few pieces and how exciting it was for me to sell two large 30 x 40" acrylic on canvas pieces on New Year's Eve.

My friend, Maggie Kirton, several years ago, was publisher of my early books through her company Wynterblue Publishing in North Bay. She encouraged me with my creative writing by often saying, "Keep that ink flowing".

I never dreamed that a day would come when I'd be thinking, hey, keep that paint flowing.

Our senior years may or may not be the golden years. But, by picking up that paint brush, your years will be any colour you decide to choose.

I encourage my friends to pick up that paint brush; write those stories; sing those songs, and play those instruments. Create, create, create! You will find that, before you know it, as Wayne Dyer suggested, you gain the awareness that you are creating your own reality. 

REAWAKENING

 Editorial Reviews

Review

With regard to this book let me share with you one review by Maggie Kirton who is the Executive Director of Wynterblue Publishing Canada, publisher of "REAWAKENING".

She writes, "Every now and then a manuscript comes across my desk that completely captivates me. Austin has reached inside the human heart and removed all boundaries pertaining to everlasting love ... and her ability to play with the English language successfully is astounding.

Austin's Reawakening is a must read. It will take you into a land not far from your heart and bring you back to earth again believing that all things are possible with love and hope."

Another review of REAWAKENING:

" Let me first wipe my droplets of moisture from my eyes. Some shed from sadness of a love so strong and true, that never seems to be a " togetherness of two the way I would hope. Then some shed for the amazing job... Austin did in making me laugh at the craziness of our "human" lives.

"Reawakening" is a story I could not give anything less than 5 stars to. It is a love story, mixed with sci-fi, also mixed with drama and the comedy that sneaks up if you have the ability to laugh at oneself. Would I go as far as calling this book a romance...no I cannot! It is a book of love, true love, something many think they know, but will realize if by this story very few may actually have it right. A love on earth where age, appearance were not important to the two involved, happiness, comfort, and love was without a question in their lives. A must read for men and women.

Ann237 Beauregard

From the Author

Reawakening is a novel that reveals itself in a place called Notsew. Here is a story that takes the reader on a journey, along with the story's characters, far from earth. In this place called Notsew the powers that be have great curiosity. They want to learn more about why human beings do the things they do and mostly they want to learn about some strange phenomena best described as emotion. The story's characters find themselves unwilling participants in an experiment.

I dedicated this story to my dear sister, Muriel, because she just loved it. Of all the things I had written this was her favourite. And though my sister is now also far from earth the love we shared continues to make me feel as close to her as ever.

Although I didn't know it at the time I wrote Reawakening, I believe there were greater forces at work. Why do I think this? Because the love my sister & I continue to share is the kind of love shared by the characters in this story. Nothing and no one - not even death - can lessen the power of love.

"Reawakening" is available in Kindle, Paperback, and Audio Book formats on all Amazon sites.

Visit my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Remembering 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn'

 Once reminded of 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn', I knew I wanted to watch it again. I was happy to find it on YouTube. What a great way to spend some Saturday hours! Since I grew up in Toronto, although I lived in a quieter, less busy, residential area than the Nolan family, the city setting made me feel right at home.

So much was familiar, the butcher shop, the junk man with his horse and cart, the kids finding ways to make money, the school classroom with its desks in rows, teacher at the blackboard with pointer in hand, kids playing in the streets with no worries about their safety, the insurance man who came each month to collect the premiums, the rollerskates that meant the world to this little girl. And the tree - the tree, like the people, reaching for the sun and, against all the odds, living a good life.

The world I grew up in was maybe no better, no worse, than our world today but the world I grew up in was very different, and I'm grateful that I have been able to experience and to enjoy the very different, less stressful lifestyle, where Saturday meant the matinee at the Grant theatre with double feature and a cartoon for fifteen cents. With our 25 cents weekly allowance we still had ten cents left over for popcorn and three for a cent candies. Sunday morning meant going to church and Sunday afternoons meant going, nickel in hand for the collection plate, to Sunday School. Weekdays meant walking several city blocks to school where we lined up and marched into our classrooms to the beat of the military band music that filled the school yard through the loud speaker.

There was something called 'service' in those long-ago days. I remember the milkman, the breadman, the coalman, the iceman, the doctor who came to the home when called. I remember city front verandahs where the parents and the grandparents sat and watched the kids playing in the streets. A city neighbourhood much like a small town where everybody knew everybody and kids couldn't get away with anything. There was always someone watching. These are all very good memories.

If you haven't watched "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", I highly recommend it - a very authentic portrayal of life for many in 'the good old days'.

TABLE TALK - a series of five (5) mini workshops on Women's Empowerment

 

 

TABLE TALK

Mini Workshops to celebrate the Empowerment of Women

 

I am offering once again my 'Table Talk' series of gatherings for women. We will meet once a week, sit around the table, and we will stay focused on a specific personal growth issue of your choosing each time we meet.

This series of five (5) weekly mini workshop sessions will commence Wednesday, May 28^th, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Table Talk invites you to participate in a meditation and healing circle, followed by meaningful discussions on topics, chosen by you, focusing on women’s issues.

Fee for the workshops is $100 for five (5) workshops.

This fee can be paid in full at the first session or you may prefer to make a personal commitment to attend the five (5) sessions and pay $20 each Wednesday afternoon of the series.

Due to limited space, minimum  and maximum attendance is four (4) women.  In other words an attendance of four (4) is a requirement to assure these mini workshops will be a ‘go’.  Your commitment to attend all five (5) sessions is key to the success of the series for all participants.

If you wish to participate in Table Talk, please message me on Facebook, or email me – audrey@persona.ca