Heather Hummel

Be the Writer Workshop with Heather Hummel - Register Today!

2009-07-15T07:54:00.002-05:00

The Charlottesville Writing Center Presents the Be the Writer Workshop in Crozet, VA on August 22, 2009

Take your writing to the next level.
Register today.

Stimulate your passion for writing and set your goals for your writing future:
• Connect with your genre
• Explore the opportunities for publishing
your work and making money as a writer
• Understand the business side of writing
• Assess the current publishing landscape
and how to use it to your advantage
• Create successful workshop experiences

Victoria Moran Radio Interview - Heather Hummel

2009-06-22T17:58:00.002-05:00

I'm excited to be on Victoria Moran's radio show, A Charmed Life this Wednesday. Victoria is the author of one of my favorite books, Creating a Charmed Life.

Victoria's Newsletter today:

On Wednesday, June 24, noon Eastern, 11 Central, 10 Mountain, and 9 Pacific on HealthyLife.net radio, my guests will be Heather Hummel, who co-authored with her mother, the elegant 60-something model Valerie Ramsey the book Gracefully: Looking and Being Your Best at Any Age. Heather is also a novelist in her own right so in addition to talking with her about looking and feeling younger, we'll chat a bit about the writer's life and try to drum up some encouragement for all of you who have a novel in your head or on your hard drive.

Charlottesville's The Hook

2009-06-21T18:50:00.002-05:00

Thank you to Charlottesville's The Hook for plugging Through Hazel Eye's Honorable Mention at the New York Times Book Festival!

Click HERE to Read the Hook!

Through Hazel Eyes Wins 2nd Place at the New York Book Festival in the Romance Category

2009-06-01T17:04:00.002-05:00

Through Hazel Eyes: A Novel by Heather Hummel Won 2nd Place at the New York Book Festival in the Romance Category!

Click Here to read more about the
New York Book Festival

Watch the Through Hazel Eyes Book Trailer!

Buy Through Hazel Eyes on:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Rave Reviews for Through Hazel Eyes

"I don't normally write reviews unless the book is good. And this one is. The descriptions from dialog and narrative give the reader such a vivid mental image of what is transpiring that you feel as if you are watching a movie in your mind. The plot about Madison escaping Rick and starting over in Virginia might lead a potential reader to think of this book as a 'chick flick' type read. On the contrary. I read the back cover and jumped right in. This is a must read that will be hard to put down. Plan on saying - 'just one more chapter'"! - F. Franke

"The fluid writing style and the story's twists kept me captivated until the very end. I loved this book!" - C. Collins

"Through Hazel Eyes by rising star Heather Hummel takes the reader through their own life's experiences in a fast moving read that brings a twist to the ending. This is a "could not put it down" rainy day book or beach book. The characters are our neighbors and friends , the setting could be your own backyard. We'll see this author often in the months ahead." - F. Hunter

Did you know that when you buy Through Hazel Eyes, you'll have the opportunity to read the first chapter of Heather's next novel The Universe is My Sugar Daddy? Additionally, for all of the writers out there, there is a bonus section on how to launch your own writing career.

Through Hazel Eyes is a journey of life through the eyes of Madison Ragnar, a high school English teacher who is struggling to recover from an emotionally abusive relationship. Madison's speckled view of the world is seen through her troubled students, a fellow teacher, an intriguing man who enters her life, and a haunting past. Yet everything comes into focus when she learns to trust in herself for the first time in thirty years.

Madison discovers that the most commanding role played throughout our lives is fate. There are times when we embrace it, times when we curse it, and always times when we are blinded by it. As a result of blinding fate, Madison's past catches up to her, and with the help of her students, she learns why a mockingbird is worthier than a diamond ring.

"Because the iris is the tunnel to our souls, this is where we look in others to find unspoken answers. It is the whites of our eyes that hold our sacred secrets, and knowing that the iris will divulge all, the white remains pure." - Madison Ragnar, Through Hazel Eyes.

Stacey Cochran - Guest Blogger - Author of CLAWS

2009-05-25T23:59:00.001-05:00

Heather, thanks so much for having me at your place today to discuss my new novel CLAWS. I thought folks visiting your blog might find it interesting to hear me discuss my current blog tour and how it works to help market books.

I am currently on Day 12 of a 45-day blog tour to help promote the novel. This is the first blog tour I’ve ever done, and I’ve only heard of two other authors doing one. So what is a blog tour?

A blog tour is like a book tour except that the author promoting his/her new book writes blog posts (like this one) over a set period of time at a number of host blog sites. So instead of visiting bookstores and libraries, we visit fellow writers’ blogs… or more truthfully, we do this in conjunction with more traditional touring like visiting bookstores and libraries.

As of today, I’ve done eleven previous blog posts on this “tour” and have drummed up two reviews on Amazon.com for my book and sold a couple dozen copies of the paperback and Amazon Kindle versions. Interestingly, the blog tour has gained momentum and is directly responsible for two additional call-in interviews.

That is, two folks read a blog post I did in the past week or two while on the blog tour and then contacted me requesting to do an interview. A third person contacted me to do a written interview for his blog, and about 2-3 folks have asked me to write a guest blog post like this one for their blogs as a result of seeing me on a blog this past week or two.

It’s a fascinating idea, and it definitely has contributed to some books sold and much more exposure than had I not done it. It’s conceivable that you could do a tour like this for several months, if you were extremely proactive about asking people if you could guest post at their places.

My feeling so far is that 1) it’s extremely cost-effective, 2) it builds a connection with the person hosting you, 3) it generates momentum that leads to further media exposure, 4) it needs to be done for a minimum of 30 days straight (and probably a 60-90 day tour would be most effective), 5) it certainly gets you writing.

In this respect, I think that it is an effective marketing strategy that should be considered part of any writer’s larger campaign when promoting the release of a new novel. I guarantee you that we’ll see more and more of these in the months and years to come.

Thanks so much, Heather, for hosting me today. I hope you’ll consider buying a copy of CLAWS and writing an Amazon.com review yourself.

I have been offering and will offer to you and your readers today the following: if you buy five or more copies of CLAWS at Amazon.com, I will do a Skype call-in interview with you to talk about your book, which I will put on my TV show and on YouTube.

Thanks so much. I hope to hear from you soon!

The Universe is My Sugar Daddy

2009-05-25T20:10:00.000-05:00

With only 17 pages of edits left to do on my second novel, The Universe is My Sugar Daddy, I am excited to be releasing it within the next month or two. Stay tuned!

Talk to Me - Heather's Interview on Rita Schiano's radio show

2009-05-13T09:48:00.000-05:00

Last night I had a fascinating interview with Rita Schiano on her Talk to Me radio show. Click below to listen.

Spry Living magazine

2009-05-01T08:59:00.002-05:00

Valerie Ramsey and I are featured in Spry Living magazine this month. They did a terrific job!

Read the Article

Valerie Ramsey on View from the Bay

2009-04-29T16:43:00.001-05:00

Valerie Ramsey was a guest on View from the Bay in San Francisco yesterday. She discussed Gracefully and her role as a key note speaker for the American Heart Association.

WATCH THE SHOW!

Through Hazel Eyes - YouTube

2009-04-06T12:09:00.001-05:00

Marketing Wars: Practicing the Presence of Peace

2009-04-05T14:35:00.001-05:00

I Ain’t Going to Work on Maggie’s Farm No More
A non-combatant’s view of the book selling wars
by Bear Jack Gebhardt

I’m tickled to announce that my new book, Practicing the Presence of Peace, has just been released by Pathbinder Publishing. It’s currently available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble (and from fine bookstores near you, if you actually go to the desk and ask them to order a copy!) What a treat. What a moment! I’m tempted to sit back and smoke big cigars.

But no. According to publishing traditions and business expectations, the publication of one’s book is just the first step. An author then signs up or gets drafted into the book marketing wars! According to tradition, I’m supposed to start battling--- elbowing, nudging, cutting in line trying to get ahead of the other 180,000 book authors who will publish a new book this year. We’re all supposed to fight each other for a spot in The New York Times Review of Books, or for an invite to Oprah, for strong approval by Library Journal, Book List and Publishers Weekly, or, lacking these, maybe just a quick mention in the Wheatland County Haybale Times.

But, as you can tell by title of my book, (Practicing the Presence of Peace) I’m a grizzled non-combatant. I’m really, really tired of the wars--- all the wars, whether it be the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or the war on terror, the war on drugs, the war on poverty, the war on obesity, the war on tobacco--- ad infinitum with this war biz. I’m tired of them. Wars don’t lead to peace. Only peace leads to peace. So I’m not fighting any more wars. And I encourage others to likewise drop out, refuse to join. “The only way the wars will end,” Napoleon observed, “is when the soldiers refuse to fight.”

So what to do?
Simple: Be at peace, both personally and professionally.

I can decide (and it is a decision) to be at peace with the 180,000 other book authors. Not only at peace. I can rejoice. What a wonderful time and place we have all come to--- we brothers and sisters in the book publishing biz. What a rich, fruitful, dazzlingly colorful era for writers and readers. Why fight this? No need.

All publishers quickly (and secretly) acknowledge they have no idea how to make a best-seller. A rave review in the New York Times or a strong review in the Library Journal may indeed help sales, in the short run. The one and only sure-fire sentence that an author can utter that always results in a best-selling book is this sentence: “It’s nice to be back again, Oprah.” Without the opportunity to utter such a sentence, successfully selling a book is dicey. There are no guarantees.

So we might as well enjoy ourselves in the process. Let’s not beat ourselves up, or others up, about what we or they could be, should be, might be doing to promote our books more vigorously, more widely, more expertly, elegantly, professionally, perfectly. Of course there’s more we could be doing. This is my fourth book. I’ve learned that there are always more things to do than I or my publisher can do, or did do; always things we should have done, might have done that we didn’t. Welcome to earth.

This time I’m going to trust that each of the 180,000 new books has its own sweet and perfect destiny, and will find its own natural audience. I’m learning to trust that each book does have its own energy, its own place in the sun, whether that’s in a hidden valley in Idaho or on the main streets of London and New York.

As far as promoting our books, it’s the new millennium. Let’s just do what we enjoy to do, what’s fun to do, what seems right and natural and easy. Sure. There are those who want to make this book promotion business into a war. They’ll argue for pre-emptive bombing and sudden invasions and massive funds employed to support our cause. To paraphrase the scriptures, “The poor (the war-makers) will always be with us.”

I’m not going to listen to them this time around. Or as Bobby sings it, I ain’t going to work on Maggie’s farm no more. This time, I’m going to make the promotion of the book as much fun as was the writing of the book. This way, my real peace and prosperity are already immediately in hand.

Brandon London - Bryan Bieber

2009-03-10T19:09:00.003-05:00

Bryan Bieber, my co-screenwriter for our forthcoming film "Untitled Work: A Charlottesville Story," has expanded his film repertoire to include short films for NFL players.

The example below is a film he did for Miami Dolphin's wide receiver, Brandon London.

Brandon London Miami Dolphins from Bryan Ross Bieber on Vimeo.

Bryan also did the video book introduction for Through Hazel Eyes:
Watch the Film

Jennifer Weiner's Coffee Shop

2009-02-25T13:32:00.002-05:00

I've been reading week-after-week about the "crumbling publishing industry." But, the effects of the economy on the publishing industry go deeper than that. Coffee shops are closing. Without coffee shops where will authors write?

As an example, my heart goes out to author Jennifer Weiner. You see, the coffee shop where she writes from just closed their doors for good. Her back-up plans pale in comparison to her "office," and one was closing their doors as well. She is now working from her closet. Is this a sign of the times? God, I hope not. My closet is full of my boyfriend's clothes...he has more clothes than any woman I know.

If the coffee shop I write from, C'ville Coffee, ever closed, I'd be devastated. I agree with Jennifer, even though we can work from home, it doesn't feel like going to work until you've picked up your car keys and cell phone off the kitchen counter. All while looking at the clock as though you have to be somewhere by a certain time. Mostly, however, that time does revolve around the coffee shop's busy time. Timing is everything when there are seats to be had by the window for a view and outlets to plug a laptop into.

C'ville Coffee is booming, mostly due to the incredible atmosphere, and also the number of writers per capita that Charlottesville has. I've met many authors and self employed people who work from this establishment. Maybe it's the big turtle or Toan's good nature. But, the place is a gold mine.

I even made it on their website - click here to see!

My agent believes that the publishing industry has seen the worst and is starting to turn about. For that, I'm excited. As for Jennifer, anytime you want to come to Charlottesville, I know a great place to write!

Book Trailer - Through Hazel Eyes

2009-02-19T13:32:00.002-05:00

Bryan Bieber of BRB Productions, film maker extraordinaire, made the book trailer for Through Hazel Eyes.

Watch It Now!

ALL THINGS THAT MATTER

2009-02-06T09:56:00.001-05:00

Listen to Heather Hummel's interview with Phil Harris, ALL THINGS THAT MATTER. We had a great conversation about the publishing industry, sprituality's role in our lives regarding fate, and my new novel, Through Hazel Eyes.

LISTEN HERE

Amazon reviews for Through Hazel Eyes:

I don't normally write reviews unless the book is good. And this one is. The descriptions from dialog and narrative give the reader such a vivid mental image of what is transpiring that you feel as if you are watching a movie in your mind. The plot about Madison escaping Rick and starting over in Virginia might lead a potential reader to think of this book as a 'chick flick' type read. On the contrary. I read the back cover and jumped right in. This is a must read that will be hard to put down. Plan on saying - 'just one more chapter'.

F. Franke

This is a story of transformation and growth. Madison Ragnar's decision to leave an abusive relationship and take a job as a high school English teacher in another state is the first step on her journey to a new life. Madison is soon presented with challenges and tragedy as she struggles to learn to trust and love again. As her journey unfolded, I felt like I was sharing in a best friend's path. The fluid writing style and the story's twists kept me captivated until the very end. I loved this book!

C. Collins

Through Hazel Eyes by rising star Heather Hummel takes the reader through their own life's experiences in a fast moving read that brings a twist to the ending. This is a "could not put it down" rainy day book or beach book. The characters are our neighbors and friends , the setting could be your own backyard. We'll see this author often in the months ahead.

F. Hunter

Through Hazel Eyes - The First Chapter

2009-01-29T20:50:00.004-05:00

Enjoy the first chapter of Heather Hummel's novel, Through Hazel Eyes...

THROUGH HAZEL EYES

A Novel

Heather Hummel

Heather Hummel resides in Charlottesville, Virginia. Through Hazel Eyes was inspired by her former high school English students.

© Heather Hummel, 2008
Through Hazel Eyes
First Printing, US 2008
ISBN: 0-9776232-8-9

CHAPTER ONE

Television offered little entertainment on a night when most people were in bars, at parties, or catching a movie on the downtown mall in Charlottesville, Virginia. Freshly-washed flannel sheets warmed Madison as she tucked herself under the covers. She fluffed her pillows and curled up with her latest read, Travels with Charley. Reading often distracted her, but some nights the words on the page became secondary to her thoughts of leaving Rick. Her head still carried vivid images of that hot summer day in Colorado.

With covers pulled over her head in yet another attempt to hide, Madison well knew that it would not prevent the visions. The darkness failed to allay the combination of fear and wonderment that settled in when she faced the four walls of her bedroom. She considered painting them a different color than pale yellow, the landlord’s choice, but browsing color swatches had been overwhelming. Almond Pinched Panache, Café Summer Twist, and Mango Blossom.

“They may as well be ice cream parlor flavors,” she told the pimpled face teen working the paint section. She left the hardware store that day hungry and paintless, much like the day she left Colorado.

Madison’s relationship with Rick ended when she informed him that she accepted a job outside of Colorado. She didn’t emphasize that it was a teaching position; he’d know that. On a hot mid-summer morning she broached the issue. Rick had been sitting on the front porch scanning over the blueprints of the old ranch house that sat high on a hill just outside the town limits. It was his biggest remodeling job since they moved to Colorado. The owner of the early 1890s ranch wanted Rick to retain the historical exterior while updating the interior and retiling the dilapidated roof. The job would take up the majority of the summer, and it had kept Rick busy each day from early in the morning until late in the evening. Madison’s summer break from school was well underway, but her break only heightened Rick’s insecurities.

“What are you doing today?” he’d ask each morning putting his coffee to lips and an eye on her over the rim of his mug.

Her answers were variations on a theme: “Taking Seth for a walk, reading, errands. The usual.”
Rick not only worked long hours on the ranch house, but he also had meetings to attend with city officials regarding the historical aspect of the project. Living in rural Carbondale made it difficult to find specific materials for a historical house.

Madison loved the beauty of the area and all that it offered a nature lover and athlete, and she felt relieved that Rick had to travel, often several hours, to find just the right materials needed for the job. He would return well after dark to find her sound asleep, or so he thought, sometimes in their bed, sometimes on the futon in her office, books sprawled across the floor and a lightweight throw draped over her shoulders. He never woke her up verbally, but his heavy footsteps on the porch shook her awake every time. She kept her eyes closed and positioned her head away from sight before he climbed the steps to the loft where their bedroom and her office neighbored each other.

“G’night, Seth,” she’d hear Rick say to his black and white Border Collie mix, who usually lay at the bottom of the stairs until Rick came home. After that Seth would move and lie down within a few feet of wherever Madison was sleeping.

On this day, Seth sat at Rick’s feet on the front porch steps, just one step below, when Madison approached them. As a mutt, Seth’s features were unique; his fur was shorter and his chest broader than a purebred Border Collie. Most of all, his black face was cleanly accented—a wide white stripe down the bridge of his nose, creating an almost perfect symmetrical split on the tip of his left ear was a spot of stark white fur shaped somewhat like a teardrop that stood out against the midnight-black fur. When his ears were tucked or flipped back, the teardrop wasn’t visible, but when they were flopped forward it was evident.

Rick wore faded jeans, despite the heat, and a worn-out blue t-shirt with “Colorado Contracting Services” on the pocket sporting his contracting company. His long, muscular arms and hands, slightly scarred from a variety of job related cuts, emerged from the short sleeves. Two days of stubbled growth shadowed his taught, angular face.

Deep in concentration, Rick didn’t look up when Madison sat down on the bottom step. He was home for lunch and to pick up additional tools from the shed. Madison clenched her tiny hands together in her lap, creating a round fearful fist. Sweat stuck her favorite floral sundress to the curves of her body. The seam of the dress hugged her kneecaps, exposing only her well defined calves. Loose curls framed her forehead; the rest of her hair had been bundled in a high, tight ponytail. Her toes poked through the straps of the brown leather sandals, faded from long walks in the western sun. The same rays now beat directly on her tanned face as she attempted to begin the familiar discussion she had begun so often with little success.

“Rick, I need to talk to you.” Looking up at his blank stare, Madison continued, “I’m taking a new job. Out of state.” She paused to gain another round of courage. “I’m leaving to start a new life…alone.”

Her hands remained clenched, but eerily Rick remained calm.

“I figured this was coming again, Madison. But don’t think it’s over.”

When she began to reply, he held one hand up. His tone remained steady and clear. “Don’t.”
His voice, however, had not matched the look in his steel-gray eyes as he sauntered inside for his keys. He returned to his truck and slowly made his way down the driveway, never once looking back.

Madison flew inside, tears streaming, dripping off her jaw. She grabbed her already-packed bags from under the bed and in the closet, and started for the door. On the way out, she stuck her head in the door of her office to bid a silent goodbye to her grandmother’s secretary desk. Once she was settled in Virginia, a friend would arrange to ship it to her.

Now, nestled under her flannel covers in Charlottesville, Madison curled her body into a tight ball, the steely look in Rick’s eyes lingering in her mind. Even deep under her down comforter two thousand miles away, she was still frightened, still checked the house when she came home, and still wondered when he would find her. The Rick she knew would keep his promise to never let it end. And she wondered if letting her go the way he had was the ultimate act of his emotional abuse toward her—there were days when the wonder and fear was worse than facing him again.

The phone rang, startling Madison out of restless sleep where she had drifted into a slew of nightmares. In the first one, Rick hid in the bushes outside her house. All she saw were his gray eyes through the twigs. In the second she was walking down a crowded city street where the back of every head resembled Rick’s. She wasn’t sure of the city, just that it held a sense of cold, of lonely. The third placed her on a small rowboat in the middle of a frigid ocean, or was it a large lake? Rick’s head bobbed atop the small currents behind the boat, drawing closer and closer.
It was during this dream that she was awakened. She swam her way out from under the covers, catching it on the last ring before it rolled to voicemail. In a deep, sleepy voice, she managed,

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s me.”

“Olivia?” Madison rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed. “I thought you were out with Gregory.”

“I was. He just left to join the guys for poker. I think at Phil’s. What’re you doing?”

“Sleeping. What time is it?” The clock’s illuminated digits were hidden behind a small pile of books on the nightstand.

”It’s only nine. Do you want to go back to sleep? I can call tomorrow.”

Madison didn’t know how Olivia, a night owl, managed on such little sleep. ”No, I could use the distraction. I’ve got visions of Colorado ghosts clogging my head again.”

“C’mon, we’ve been over this,” Olivia said. “If he were looking for you he’d have found you by now.”

“I know. I know. But I can’t shake the look in his eyes. Let alone his behavior when I left. It’s too hard to explain. You’d have to know him, and these nightmares don’t help.”

“Well, you’ve managed to make yourself pretty difficult to find. Just a P.O. box and a cell phone keep the information seekers at bay.”

“It doesn’t take much to find someone.”

“Exactly my first point. Either Rick or a private investigator would have discovered you by now if they really wanted to.”

“Maybe he’s waiting for the right time. Whatever that might be. And, he wouldn’t hire someone, he’d find me himself. That much I know.”

"Maybe you’re worried about nothing. He’s probably happily married with a baby on the way by now. Go back to sleep.”

“Okay, okay.” With that, Madison ended the call and found her way back under the covers. It was 11:12 p.m. when she last stretched to look at the clock and fell back onto her pillow.

To finish reading THROUGH HAZEL EYES, please visit Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Eldon Taylor - Essential Pillars

2009-01-22T08:47:00.004-05:00

How do you feel about 2009? For most of us it holds a great deal of ambivalence. It promises to be a year of great positive change, yet lurking in the background is an element of fear. None of us want to hold onto the fear for we do not want to create a self-fulfilling prophecy. 2009 may therefore be the year for caution, but it can also be your year for great opportunities.

Many visionaries from the past have made great gains during times similar to these. And today's visionaries will repeat those success stories. I am writing to you today to share with you how you can make 2009 your best year ever, a year in which you can succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

My friend Eldon Taylor, author of the New York Times best seller, Choices and Illusions, has made available to a very select group his "Essential Pillars of Success" at unheard of savings. These principles have worked for thousands of people around the world, and are guaranteed to work for you. Essential Pillars of Success consists of nine programs on eight CDs, and comes with a book that explains how and why it is so easy to self-sabotage our best efforts, and provides a roadmap for correcting those thought patterns and beliefs. It also includes a booklet teaching the learning strategies involved in choosing the programs or 'scripts' that run through your mind. The entire mind conditioning set normally sells for $243.50 but it is yours today for only $88.00. Plus, you will receive hundreds of dollars in bonus tools to further assist you.

Act Now!

Essential Pillars of Success uses a patented technology that has been repeatedly tested and demonstrated effective by independent scientists in the most rigorous of scientific studies. The studies have been carried out in places such as Stanford University, Colorado State University, Armed Forces University in Munich, Germany and by private research institutions.

What is it you would do if you knew you could not fail?

Do not delay. This is the year of change for the U.S. and for the world, and it could be your year of remarkable positive change as well. Your new Essential Pillars of Success collection will:
1. supercharge your self belief,
2. convince you that you truly do deserve to 'have it all,'
3. give you the motivation to go make it happen,
4. create a stress free zone so that you can focus on what is truly important to you,
5. activate the optimal thought patterns to bring financial prosperity to you,
6. keep you healthy so that you can maximize your opportunities,
7. fine tune your thinking so that you not only know what it is you want, but you will also know exactly how to achieve it,
8. unleash your own abilities to manifest the life of your dreams, and
9. give you the optimism vital for maintaining the perfect state of mind to create even more successes.

Regardless of your goals, Essential Pillars provides the key components vital for creating success in your life. Wow-and all of it for only $88!

Invest In Yourself Today!

These are trying times and it can be easy to get so caught up in our day-to-day problems that we forget about taking care of ourselves. Don't put off working on those aspects of change that are truly important to you.

InnerTalk is the patented and proven technology written about in Eldon's book, Choices and Illusions. Here is what some are saying about this powerful and patented modality for personal empowerment:

I have been purchasing InnerTalk for years. I left a bad marriage, obtained my bachelor's degree and continued to obtain my Juris Doctorate. I am now an attorney and have my own practice! I still listen to them everyday!
L.L., FL.

Your programs have changed my life, I'm in sales and my sales have gone through the roof!!
M.S., MI.

I have had amazing success with you prosperity program. On the days that I listen to it on my way to work, my stock portfolios go up in value. Sounds crazy, I know, but this happens predictably and consistently. At first, I dismissed this as dumb luck, but after months and months this phenomenon continues like clockwork virtually every time I listen to it.
A.

I love your programs . . . I have been using them for years . . . keep up the awesome work! These programs have changed me in ways only GOD himself could have. These programs are a gift from GOD himself . . . thank-you for following your dreams because you have helped so many in your quest.
D.W., CA

I have actually started and have been sticking to a budget. I think before I spend. I've actually started a saving account. I am paying off debt. It has become fun for me to manage my money. I am paying more attention to financial related news and information. I have set many 'goals' . . . and each day I actually do something to get closer to achieving them . . . My advice to anyone reading this, take a chance . . . and watch your life change for the better! The products actually work!
L.A., TN

This is a limited time offer. Get your set today while quantities last:

Act Now!

I want you to benefit from this wonderful opportunity. I personally wish you the very best in everything and know you will benefit from The Essential Pillars of Success. I have joined with a number of other like-minded visionaries to offer a special gift to you when you take advantage of this offer. So, you not only get the great Essential Pillars of Success set but you will also receive absolutely F R E E many more gifts, specifically aimed at assisting you in creating the best year ever. These are valuable gifts worth hundreds of dollars. Make that investment in yourself today.

Success Awaits You!

Thank you and enjoy!

Heather

P.S. Sorry, this offer is only available in English and cannot be shipped to Australia, Brunei, China, India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Taiwan or U.K.

Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover

2009-01-06T09:29:00.000-05:00

Through Hazel Eyes

In a recent discussion about how readers connect to a book they're reading, or considering purchasing, Heather Hummel noted that she "should have been a book psychologist."

"I see books the way people see
other people: How does the book connect to readers, and, equally important, how do readers connect to the book-the cover, the personality/theme?
The saying 'Don't judge a book by it's cover' is a cliche used to describe our judgment of people, isn't it?" - Heather Hummel

Heather Hummel & Hay House

2008-12-30T16:15:00.002-05:00

As an author who specializes in the genre of Body, Mind & Soul, Heather Hummel cross promotes with many of Hay House's authors, including Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and Eldon Taylor.

Are you a fan of Hay House authors? Find out More.

Through Hazel Eyes: A Novel by Heather Hummel

2008-11-17T09:28:00.017-05:00

Through Hazel Eyes: A Novel, Heather Hummel's newest release, is an excellent option for your next book club event. Filled with life lessons regarding fate, healing, and love, Through Hazel Eyes offers challenging and interesting topics for your discussion.

Through Hazel Eyes is a journey of life through the eyes of Madison Ragnar, a high school English teacher who is struggling to recover from an emotionally abusive relationship. Madison's speckled view of the world is seen through her troubled students, a fellow teacher, an intriguing man who enters her life, and a haunting past. Yet everything comes into focus when she learns to trust in herself for the first time in thirty years.

Madison discovers that the most commanding role played throughout our lives is fate. There are times when we embrace it, times when we curse it, and always times when we are blinded by it.
As a result of blinding fate, Madison's past catches up to her, and with the help of her students, she learns why a mockingbird is worthier than a diamond ring.

"Because the iris is the tunnel to our souls, this is where we look in others to find unspoken answers. It is the whites of our eyes that hold our sacred secrets, and knowing that the iris will divulge all, the white remains pure." - Madison Ragnar, Through Hazel Eyes.

Click HERE to Buy on Amazon

Through Hazel Eyes: A Novel

Order Through Hazel Eyes between November 15 and December 15 to receive the special release price.

Release Price: $11.25
List Price: $17.00
S & H: $3.95

ORDER YOUR COPY

The Secret Pleasure of Menopause - Dr. Christiane Northrup

2008-10-13T11:35:00.014-05:00

Heather Hummel is excited to announce that she has teamed up with Dr. Christiane Northrup in promoting her newly released book, The Secret Pleasures of Menopause (Hay House).

In celebration, Heather is offering FREE Gifts for purchaing The Secret Pleasures of Menopause!

As a thank you and in recognition of Dr. Northrup's support of Gracefully: Looking and Being Your Best at Any Age, Valerie Ramsey and Heather Hummel are offering to Dr. Northrup's and our mutual readers TEN autographed copies of Gracefully.

To enter the drawing, please E-MAIL us and indicate "Gracefully Drawing" in the subject line with your name and address in the body of the email.

In addition, Heather Hummel is offering ONE FREE Manuscript Evaluation and FIVE FREE copies of her suspense romance novel Through Hazel Eyes (PathBinder Publishing).
To enter, please E-MAIL 1) proof of purchase of The Secret Pleasures of Menopause, and 2) submit a manuscript (MS Word) along with a letter explaining their writing goals.*

To enter the drawing for either a FREE copy of Through Hazel Eyes or a FREE Manuscript Evaluation, please E-MAIL us with either "Through Hazel Eyes Drawing" or "Manuscript Evaluation" in the subject line and your name/address in the body of the e-mail.

Winners will be announced on November 7, 2008.

* Manuscript must be double spaced, 1" margins, 12 point Times New Roman font, NO x-rated materials will be reviewed. Evaluation will include comments, edits, and suggestions using the Track Changes and Comments features in Word. Heather Hummel does not guarentee publication of evaluated manuscript. Evaluation is her opinion only.

Screenplay - Money, Love, & Charlottesville

2008-09-08T13:45:00.004-05:00

As a writer, I've always wanted to delve into screenplays. My grandmother was a screenwriter for The Lucy Show and Get Smart, which further peaked my curiosity about the format.

Well, I found my screenplay/cowriter in Bryan Bieber. Bryan is a fellow UVA Alum whose passion is film. His short film, Money, Love, & Charlottesville, is what we are expanding into a full feature film.

Screenplays and novels are completely different animals, both rewarding and creatively challenging in their own regards.

Check out Money Ain't a Thing - the first five minutes - and I'll keep you posted on the full feature. As of now we're about 80% done with the script.

Curled up with a Good Book Reviews Gracefully

2008-08-29T08:33:00.002-05:00

Curled up with a Good Book

Thanks to Lillian Brummet for posting this review of Gracefully on her site:

Gracefully: Looking and Being Your Best at Any Age by Valerie Ramsey is a self-help guide for women around the globe. Readers will be pleased to find Susan Lucci's foreword and Heather Hummel's preface at the very beginning of the book useful, providing insight as to how other women feel about the content of Ramsey’s book.

A privileged life can still come with chains, and life issues do not avoid those in this position. Valerie Ramsey has had her share of life issues over the years, but she maintained a healthy marriage and raised six children as a stay-at-home mother. She began a career as a marketer in her mid-fifties for a resort community before retiring from that to begin a fresh career in modeling at the age of 63.

Gracefully offers numerous beauty tips that models use and defines various less invasive beauty-enhancing surgeries. Ramsey briefly covers finding the right clothes for the right age and how to minimize the variety of your wardrobe, saving some money and looking great at the same time. Readers also learn common fashion mistakes and the proper use of accessories. Nutrition, water intake, sleep and meditative exercises, including yoga and walking, are briefly covered in the book as well.

The book is generally what has been seen in various beauty and health magazines over the years but is provided in a friendly condensed guide that today’s busy women are sure to appreciate. The encouraging conclusion is worth the price of the book. Ramsey provides us with a wonderful example of how age is no longer a barrier to living a fulfilling life.

Eco-minded readers will be thrilled to know that the hardcover edition of Gracefully is not only durable, it is also printed on acid-free paper.

Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Lillian Brummet, 2008

Publishers Weekly Recommends Gracefully this Summer!

2008-06-30T09:49:00.001-05:00

The famed Publishers Weekly included Gracefully in a select group of books for June's "Books for Grownups"

Click Here

Three Notable Authors - One Life Changing Seminar

2008-06-30T08:49:00.002-05:00

Three Notable Authors - One Life Changing Seminar

Three expert authors, Renee Lee Rosenberg, Heather Hummel, and Alan Geller, met on a hot, early summer day as panelist of the Rockaway Literary Festival. What transpired on stage radiated throughout the audience as they informed and inspired each and every listener.

Bringing her decades of career counseling experience with an emphasis on using laughter and positive thinking, Renee provided valuable insight and answers to those facing retirement or a career change. The audience readily absorbed her practical and lighthearted outlook and advice.

The flow to Heather's discussion on the "Be, Do, Have" approach to creating life transitions was seamless and captivating. She explained the essence of believing in yourself as the person you want to be in order to become just that person.

While Heather focused on creating life experiences, Alan topped the panel off with his discussion on how to handle the issues life throws at us, specifically a "scary diagnosis." His healthy way of handling physically an unhealthy diagnosis gives hope to anyone or their loved ones who are going through the same experience.

At the end of the day, the three authors and panelists agreed that none had ever shared such a terrific collaborative experience. As such, they have decided to take their "show on the road" with the mission of bringing their unique, yet symbiotic, messages to the masses. Their one day seminar provides a group workshop by morning and individual breakout sessions with each author in the afternoon based on their individual areas of expertise. Attendees will leave enriched and inspired!

For more information on bringing this all encompassing one day workshop to you, your company, your associations, or any other groups, contact any of the three of us.

Renee Rosenberg, MA, LMHC
Renee Lee Rosenberg, MA, LMHC, has over twenty years experience in career transition and career management counseling. An accomplished and entertaining speaker, Renee regularly presents on a variety of topics including: retirement issues, résumé preparation, interviewing skills, accessing the hidden job market, mid-life career transition, and keeping positive and productive during a difficult job search. Other topics that she covers include effective intergenerational communication, and using positive thinking, laughter and optimism as career and life tools.

Renee's contribution to the Healthy Aging panel focused on one of the biggest life transistions we face - retirement. Her upbeat and positive approach to this topic inspired the auidience and encouraged thoughts and opportunities that hadn't been considered before.

Renee's book, Achieving the Good Life After 50:Tools And Resources For Making It Happen is full of practical and inspirational advice.

Contact Renee at renee@retirementutor.com
Website: www.retirementutor.com

Heather Hummel
Heather Hummel, a former English teacher, is an author who specializes in the body, mind, soul genre with an emplashis on life transitions. Her Be, Do, Have approach to life is creating a buzz, and is the core focus of her work. Heather's books, workshops, and discussions provide her auidiences with a wealth of spiritual wisdom.

Heather's discussion on the Healthy Aging panel delved into the body, mind, soul concept of taking charge of life's transitions before they take charge of you. Head nods from the auidience showed agreement that through believing and acting upon, rather than reacting to situations that currently exist, empower us. Heather provides hands-on workshopping tools that give attendees considerable and valuable methods for creating healthy transitions.

Heather's book, Gracefully: Looking and Being Your Best at Any Age (McGraw Hill), was coauthored with her mother, Valerie Ramsey.

Contact Heather at Heather_Hummel@Yahoo.com
or Heather@HeatherHummel.net
Website: www.heatherhummel.net

Alan Geller
Alan Geller was given a scary diagnosis that became the driving force behind his newly evolved life as an author and public speaker. Although Scary Diagnosis is his first book, it won't be the last. He already has two more projects underway (one with an Osteopath).

Alan's presence on the Healthy Aging panel added the element of overcoming the fear that sets in when heading for or you have been given a scary diagnosis. Since we've all experienced this news first hand or through loved ones, Alan's insightful approach to taking charge of your health (giving perspective as both a patient and a loved one), and implementing and utilizing the resources that are available to us, is a terrific tool. His books covers the "what to do's" and how to do it, and convinces us of the importance of being proactive by describing "why" his advice is so important to us all.

Contact Alan at Alan@ScaryDiagnosis.com
Wesbite: www.scarydiagnosis.com