The Unlikely Adventure Continues

Starting a New Adventure: Stay Tuned

2009-09-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone:

Well, I'm off on a new project, one that involves the whole family but doesn't involve lavender. (Shocking, I know.)

This school year we're trying something different. We're homeschooling the boys so that we can take off on some extended trips and do some real experiential learning. Our first trip is to South American (Machu Picchu and Patagonia) and we leave on October 19th.

This being the 21st Century, we have a website about our new adventure and we each--boys included--have blogs that we'll be updating along the way. When we're on the road we'll be blogging more often because more will be happening. Also, Robb will be posting photos and the boys will be uploading videos of our travels.

We're calling this project Kendrick World Class and our website is appropriately enough, www.kendrickworldclass.com.

Please check out the website and sign up for our updates. We'd love to stay in touch while we're making our way through this very interesting year.

But We're Still Committed to Older Ventures

As you may remember, my Seed Campaign is raising money this quarter (until Sept. 30th) for the organization that my brother and sister-in-law founded, the Pediatric Proton Foundation.

As thanks for their son Jake's recovery and to help other families who are faced with a childhood cancer, Susan and Jim's mission is to provide education and assistance to parents of children with cancer who are interested in pursuing proton therapy, the effective but relatively unknown treatment that helped Jake beat his bone cancer. The goal is to raise enough money to give grants to families so that they can afford the treatment.

Please visit their website and learn more about the foundation and proton therapy. If you know someone who has cancer (God forbid), especially a child with cancer (doubly God forbid), please refer them to the website.

Remember How The Seed Campaign Works

If you've got to buy things, why not make each dollar go farther and help the Pediatric Proton Foundation and kids like my nephew in the process? If you buy your Amazon products through my website, you can be doing good when so many people are in need (and donations are down for many non-profits.) On my home page, click on "Buy the Book," which will take you to Amazon.

Once you're at Amazon, either buy my book (smile! thanks!) or find another product to buy. Amazon will return a commission on any item purchased to the Seed Campaign. EASY!

All best wishes and many thanks--Jeannie

A Huge Lavender Success

2009-08-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

Hello:

I wrote a month ago about my work with a lavender co-op, called The Lavender Project, in a poor Mexican village, Rancho La Colorada.

At that point, I was getting ready for a big benefit for the co-op. Well, I just wanted to report that the benefit was a grand success. We sold out of tickets early on, had about 45 auction items and lots of great margaritas! To the left, that's Robb and me at the party, with Tes Balcomb and Jim Tryon, founders of St. Anthony's Alliance, the U.S. non-profit that has helped The Lavender Project evolve. (They're the normal-sized ones in front with us. The big "people" in back with some make-up issues are puppets called Mojigangas, which no good Mexican party should be without!)

Best of all we achieved our fund-raising goal. We netted after all our expenses, $10,448 US.

I think this is an amazing accomplishment given the state of the economy. Thanks to all of you who made donations (of either money or silent auction items) and to those of you who attended the benefit.

How the Money Will be Used

The goal of The Lavender Project is for the people of Rancho La Colorada to become self-sufficient through lavender so that many of the men who go to the States every year for work can stay home.

The project will use the $10,400 to expand their acreage, their irrigation system, their soapmaking capacity and to invest in beehives and training so they can make and sell lavender honey.

For more information or to make an on-line donation (this money goes directly to the co-op by the way, not to administration costs), visit the Lavender Project website.

And Don't Forget My Nephew! (I Can't)

I've been consumed by this lavender benefit for the past month, but I wanted to remind you that we're still raising money through the Seed Campaign for the organization that my brother and sister-in-law founded, the Pediatric Proton Foundation. (So many good causes!)

As thanks for their son Jake's recovery and to help other families who are faced with a childhood cancer, Susan and Jim's mission is to provide education and assistance to parents of children with cancer who are interested in pursuing proton therapy, the effective but relatively unknown treatment that helped Jake beat his bone cancer. The goal is to raise enough money to give grants to families so that they can afford the treatment.

Please visit their website and learn more about the foundation and proton therapy. If you know someone who has cancer (God forbid), especially a child with cancer (doubly God forbid), please refer them to the website.

Remember How The Seed Campaign Works

If you've got to buy things, why not make each dollar go farther and help the Pediatric Proton Foundation and kids like my nephew in the process? If you buy your Amazon products through my website, you can be doing good when so many people are in need (and donations are down for many non-profits.) On my home page, click on "Buy the Book," which will take you to Amazon.

Once you're at Amazon, either buy my book (smile! thanks!) or find another product to buy. Amazon will return a commission on any item purchased to the Seed Campaign. EASY!

I've decided to change beneficiaries every three months instead of each month. So until the end of September, a percentage of your purchases will go to the Pediatric Proton Foundation.

All best wishes and many thanks--Jeannie

Another One For My Nephew

2009-07-09T05:34:00.000-07:00

I'm writing from a beach in North Carolina (here to celebrate my parents' 80th birthdays). My adorable nephew Jake is here too. He's now 4 and is full of spunk and life and we all couldn't be happier. (The photo to the left of Jake and his mom and dad, Susan and Jim Ralston, was taken of a couple of days ago.)

As thanks for their son's recovery and to help other families who are faced with a childhood cancer, Susan and Jim have started their own non-profit called Pediatric Proton Foundation. The foundation's mission is to provide education and assistance to parents of children with cancer who are interested in pursuing proton therapy, the effective but relatively unknown treatment that helped Jake beat his bone cancer. The goal is to raise enough money to give grants to families so that they can afford the treatment.

Please visit their website and learn more about the foundation and proton therapy. If you know someone who has cancer (God forbid), especially a child with cancer (doubly God forbid), please refer them to the website.

Remember How It Works

If you've got to buy things, why not make each dollar go farther and help the Pediatric Proton Foundation and kids like my nephew in the process? If you buy your Amazon products through my website, you can be doing good when so many people are in need (and donations are down for many non-profits.) On my home page, click on "Buy the Book," which will take you to Amazon.

Once you're at Amazon, either buy my book (smile! thanks!) or find another product to buy. Amazon will return a commission on any item purchased to the Seed Campaign. EASY!
I've decided to change beneficiaries every three months instead of each month. So until the end of September, a percentage of your purchases will go to the Pediatric Proton Foundation.

Thanks for Your Support in June

One of the highlights of my appearances at the Blanco Lavender Festival (which was a blast, by the way) was meeting Andree Brunk, the grandmother of Samantha--the darling girl in Miami who was the inspiration for June's Seed Campaign. If you remember, her mother Michelle Coffey-Garcia had started Samantha's Purpose to help children with cerebral palsy.

I'm happy to report that through the Seed Campaign we are able to donate $226 to Samantha's Purpose.

Thank you so much for your help.

My Lavender Life in Mexico--You Can Help

As many of you know, I've been working as a consultant for a lavender farm in Mexico. It's a community co-op, in which all the people in the pueblo of Rancho La Colorada are pitching in to grow lavender as a cash crop. The co-op's goal is to become self-sufficient through lavender so that many of the men who go to the States every year for work can stay home.

The lavender co-op is at a point where they need money to expand their acreage, their irrigation system, their soapmaking capacity and to invest in beehives for lavender honey. To raise these funds, I'm helping plan a big benefit for The Lavender Project on August 6th in San Miguel de Allende.

You can help in two ways. One: go to the website for the lavender project and make an easy, on-line donation, if you are so moved.

Two: I am looking for people with vacation homes who can donate a week's stay to the silent auction at the beneft. If you have a place at the beach or mountains or a pied-a-terre in Manhattan, say, please be so kind as to donate a week's stay. You will get a tax write-off (the donation will actually be made to a non-profit out of Albuquerque, St. Anthony's Alliance, that started the lavender co-op in Mexico) and you will know that instead of sitting empty, your vacation home will be helping people who are working really, really hard to help themselves.

Please let me know if you can make such a contribution (or any other type of donation--your art work, say--for the silent auction or as a door prize).

An Honor From A Wonderful Hotel

I recently got a call from a new JW Marriott resort that will soon open up just north of San Antonio. The hotel wanted to send out copies of my book to give travel writers and potential customers a sense of what makes the Hill Country so special. I was very honored that they felt my book would convey that essence; the package they sent out with my book included Hill Country Lavender products. Very nice.

Two weeks ago, Robb and I had the opportunity to tour the resort and were amazed at the vision and the details. It will have 2 PGA golf courses, a tequila bar, stunning views and, most importantly as a mom, a mini-water park that will qualify as kid heaven I'm sure.

Thanks to the Marriott for really "getting" and supporting my book.

All best wishes and many thanks for continuing to support my book AND the Seed Campaign--Jeannie

Off to the Blanco Lavender Festival

2009-06-07T20:26:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe it's time for another Blanco Lavender Festival. I can't wait to sit in the lavender fields again and see all my lavender friends.

I'll be speaking/signing/goofing off/whatever at Hill Country Lavender on Saturday, June 13th at 10:30 a.m. (Click here for directions and more info about Hill Country Lavender's schedule of events.)

At 2:00 on that same Saturday, I'll be speaking at the Old Blanco County Courthouse, on the square in Blanco. (Click here for more details on all the festival fun).

I think you'll have a blast at the festival; it's a great time to revel in lavender and to see the Hill Country at its best.

Seed Campaign Recipient for June

Some people just have the right attitude--like the parents of Samantha Garcia. Samanta was born premature four years ago and developed cerebral palsy; her parents looked at this not as a tragedy but as an opportunity to do something meaningful. That's when they created Samantha's Purpose, a non-profit that provides financial assistance to the parents of children with special needs who require therapy but are not eligible for governmental assistance.

I'm proud to be donating funds from the Seed Campaign to Samantha's Purpose during the month of June. She and her parents prove that often you can't change what happens to you in life, but you can change how you look at what happens to you. This is a theme of my book, but to be honest I think Samantha's parents demonstrate it better than I ever did!

Remember How It Works

If you've got to buy things, why not make each dollar go farther and help someone else in the process? If you buy your Amazon products through my website, you can be doing good when so many people are in need (and donations are down for many non-profits.) On my home page, click on "Buy the Book," which will take you to Amazon.

Once you're at Amazon, either buy my book (smile! thanks!) or find another product to buy. Amazon will return a commission on any item purchased to the Seed Campaign. EASY!

Thanks for your warm and gracious support--Jeannie

Hollywood Here We Come

2009-05-12T12:08:00.000-07:00

I've got some amazing news I want to share with you.

A producer/writer (Pam Long with Gloryland Films) has optioned the film rights to The Unlikely Lavender Queen. Yeehah! She has a great track record writing and producing films for the Lifetime Channel. Of course, this doesn't mean that there is definitely going to be a movie. It just means that she's going to write a treatment and/or screenplay and try to sell it to either a TV network or a studio.

Keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep you posted. (Also, send good thoughts out Hollywood way that Viggo Mortesen will play Robb and that I get to visit the set!! Purrrrrr.)

Thanks for all your support!

Jeannie

"Three Books in One," Reviewer Says

2009-04-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

As a writer it's so satisfying when someone really "gets" your work. I'm honored and thrilled that my book has received the following write up on the website, Women, Clarity and Power.

Jeannie

'Unlikely Lavender Queen' by Jeannie Ralston

There's no substitute for a good book. It brings us back to our quiet selves, to the present moment, to the paper between our fingers. And it can send us away from ourselves, into places and lives that we may never encounter in real life.

Here's one for you to pick up: Jeannie Ralston's The Unlikely Lavender Queen: A Memoir of Unexpected Blossoming. It's a really wonderful read. (And I'm very picky.)

Jeannie Ralston was a chic young freelance writer in New York City when she met and married Robb Kendrick, a National Geographic photographer. She follows him to Texas and before long they begin the state's first commercial lavender farm. At first, the rural life stymies her urban self-image and stalls her career goals. But ultimately, she embraces her life in Blanco, welcoming visitors to cut their own lavender and advising other aspiring growers.

The Unlikely Lavender Queen is actually three books in one.

First, it's the Texas version of Under the Tuscan Sun. Writer heads to the country, renovates old farmhouse, finds the life of her dreams. (I an a sucker for this story, in all its incarnations. I've read the Italian original, the French version, the Australian version, and now the Texan version. And I live the Wimberley version.)

Second, it's a how-to book for entrepreneurs. When Ralston accepts responsibility for running the lavender business, she goes at it full throttle. There's a thing or two or three to be learned from her marketing savvy.

Third, it's a woman's memoir. Ralston's life, like most women's lives, is complicated. She accedes to her husband's desires over her own, and is left alone with the kids and business much of the time as he travels the world on assignment. She faces post-partum depression. She gets over-involved in the local community, all the while bemoaning the fact that she's not getting any writing done. Ralston doesn't whitewash her life. The lavender fields may be picture-perfect, but her life is messy and contradictory. It's a struggle to acclimate, both literally and metaphorically. And in the end, when she reaches that unexpected blossoming, having succeeded in building the lavender business and growing to love it, her husband decides that he is going to sell the farm. Are you kidding me?

Is it a flaw or a virtue that Ralston keeps following her husband's lead? Obviously, between the end of this memoir (they move to Mexico) and the publication of the book, she did manage to return to the writing life and produce this book. Now, that's a part of the story I'm really curious to read.

(BTW, Ralston will be leading a "Lavender Queen Tour" of the Texas Hill Country on June 12. I'm tempted . . .)

Who We Can Help in April

2009-04-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

Someone Special We Can Help

For eight years, I've watched family friend Isabelle Carpenter of Austin deal with her diabetes with grace and poise. When I learned that Isabelle, now 11, will be honored at this year's gala for the Austin Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF) on April 18th, I wanted to take part in the tribute.

During the month of April all funds earned through the Seed Campiagn will be donated to JDRF, in Isabelle's name. JDRF is a wonderful national nonprofit organization dedicated to translating scientific advances into longer, healthier lives for those with diabetes.

I've been so impressed through the years with Isabelle and her attitude. She is such a solid, articulate, joyful girl and I know how hard her whole family has worked to raise awareness of juvenile diabetes. It's my honor and pleasure to do anything possible to help.

We have other friends who have been dealing with juvenile diabetes and we would love to make the road easier for all of them through research. Please send this to others, especially if you know someone with diabetes.

Remember How It Works

If you've got to buy things, why not make each dollar go farther and help someone else in the process? If you buy your Amazon products through my website, you can be doing good when so many people are in need (and donations are down for many non-profits.) On my home page, click on "Buy the Book," which will take you to Amazon.

Once you're at Amazon, either buy my book (smile! thanks!) or find another product to buy. Amazon will return a commission on any item purchased to the Seed Campaign. EASY!

We Did Good in March Too

In March the Seed Campaign was rasing money for the Association of Women's Business Centers, a non-profit devoted to helping women entrepreneuers through training, mentoring and financial opportunities. I'm happy to report that through our efforts the Seed Campaign is able to donate $462 to the organization. Let's hope this helps many women entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

With this month's total, the Seed Campaign has raised more than $3,700 for various causes since September. Good work! Thanks for your help.

Don't Forget the Lavender Tour

I recently sent out a special e-mail announcing the details on the Lavender Queen Hill Country Tour on Friday, June 12th, which will take readers to many places mentioned in my book and co-incide with the Blanco Lavender Festival. Several of you have written in the last few days asking if there was still room. We've already had a number of sign-ups (yeah!), but yes, there's still room.

As I said, I have a maximum of 28 people for the tour, so it will be a cozy bunch riding around the Hill Country in our own special mini-bus. I know it will be a blast.

We'll get to see so many places together, including the stone barn that Robb and I renovated (above).

All sign-up details are on my website! It's easy to reserve a spot.

All best wishes and many thanks for continuing to support the Seed Campaign--Jeannie

A Good Time for This One

2009-03-02T07:28:00.000-08:00

So many worthy causes! So many people in need! So little time! Every month it's difficult to decide where I should be sending Seed Campaign funds. But this month, I've chosen a group whose work is especially critical in these times and fits nicely with the theme of my book.

I Love These Win-Win Scenarios

Since I know how life-changing running your own business can be, I've decided to donate this month to the Association of Women's Business Centers (AWBC), which helps more than 150,000 women entrepreneurs across the country with training, mentoring and financial opportunities.

AWBC believes what I found out myself: When a woman runs her own business, she can not only reinvent and energize her own life but also she can have a huge financial and psychological impact on her greater community.

The money we can raise in March through the Seed Campaign will help women get their businesses off the ground or keep them going--at a time when every community needs every financial engine possible to maintain growth and jobs.

Please click here to find out about AWBC's excellent work

Every Dollar Works Harder Through the Seed Campaign

Everyone is being careful with their money these days, so make every dollar count for more.

If you'd like to buy my book to give as inspiration to an entrepreneur (along the lines of, if I can do it anyone can) or if you simply need to buy something on Amazon, your money can go farther to help women business owners.

Remember how it works: Go to my website and click on "Buy the Book," which will take you to Amazon.

Once you're at Amazon, either buy my book (smile!) or find another product to buy. Amazon will return a commission on any item purchased to the Seed Campaign. EASY!

Previous Successes!

I'm happy to tell you that last month we raised $224 for the Ruby Slipper Project in Atlanta. That's the organization that does home or room makeovers for people going through transition. I'm so pleased that we could help this wonderful group in any way possible.

Also, above, you'll see the photo of my darling nephew Jake with my brother Jim presenting a check for $1,043 to Cure Search, the children's cancer research organization--donated in his name and made possible by all of you in the month of December.

Thanks to all of you for spreading the word about the Seed Campaign and my book. It really does work!

More Info on the Lavender Queen Hill Country Tour

Here are a few more specifics on the tour I'm going to be doing of places mentioned in my book.

It will be a one-day tour on Friday, June 12th--to coincide with the Blanco Lavender Festival which is June 13 & 14. It will be a very full day, featuring a stop at our old stone barn (above) and lunch at the Blanco Bowling Club Cafe and dinner at the Welfare Cafe.

I'll be sending out a separate mailing with all the specifics and the details on how to sign up. Stay tuned.

Thanks so much for all your help and enthusiasm--

Jeannie

We're on Nightline

2009-02-14T15:31:00.000-08:00

This Nightline segment has to do with our new hometown, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where we landed after our lavender adventure in Texas. Take a peek at our house here in Mexico and our family getting ready for school. By the way, the house the realtor is showing in the opening of the segment is our place.

Click here to see the Nightline video.

Cheers--Jeannie

From Nicaragua to Atlanta

2009-02-04T05:31:00.000-08:00

Hello:

We're all probably painfully aware that purchasing power isn't what it used to be, but I want to remind you that through my Seed Campaign, you can make every dollar mean more!

Last month through the Seed Campaign, we raised money for a mission helping orphans in Nicaragua; this month Seed Campaign funds will go to a cause closer to home--one that truly embraces the meaning and power of "home."

Books for Orphans

I'm happy to report that in January, we raised $234 for Abrazando Cristo, the mission based in Lake Charles, LA, that has devoted itself to helping educate children at the San Cristobal (Nicaragua) Orphanage.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to meet the woman who suggested that I give to Abrazando Cristo through the Seed Campaign. Her name is Laurie Cormier and she has traveled frequently to Nicaragua to work with the children.

Laurie tells me that the money we raised will go to buying books for the orphans. How appropriate is that? "You just can't imagine the wonder and joy on these kids' faces when they see books," she tells me. "They have such respect for them; they don't have many at all."

Let's hope that this money can buy lots and lots of wonder and joy!

There's No Place Like Home

This month, money we can raise through the Seed Campaign will go to a clever, innovative cause in Atlanta called The Ruby Slipper Project.

The project grants interior design makeovers to families dealing with trauma, including teens aging out of foster care, evacuees from Hurricane Katrina and others going through transitions. Such as a high-school senior battling cancer, who just got a brighter, cooler bedroom where she can recover, thanks to the project.

The project believes that when someone is dealing with sickness and other problems they need the haven and security of home to keep going.

Click here to find out more about The Ruby Slipper Project's wonderful work.

A "Lavender Queen" Tour of the Texas Hill Country

I want to announce a special event I'm working on: I'm putting together a tour of many of the beautiful and meaningful locations mentioned in my book.

I'm planning to offer this 2-day tour just before the Blanco Lavender Festival, which is the weekend of June 13-15. We could visit Rose-Hill Manor, the Welfare Cafe, the Blanco Bowling Club, Krause Springs and--I hope!--our old stone barn where the story takes place.

Let me know if you have any interest in this excursion. I'll keep you posted on what's being planned and what the cost will be. Should be a blast!

Keep It Coming

Hope you'll continue to support the Seed Campaign by buying your Amazon products (and any more of my books you may need!) via my website.

Remember to click on "Buy the Book" on the home page of my website and after you get to The Lavender Queen book page on Amazon, you can do other shopping from there.

Thanks so much for all your help and enthusiasm--

Jeannie

Good News in the New Year

2009-01-12T19:17:00.000-08:00

Hello:

Isn't it nice to start off the year with good news, especially when there's so much gloomy news around?

Not only did we raise a nice amount for CureSearch in December but my beautiful nephew Jacob is doing much better in his struggle with cancer.

Thanks for the Prayers

I reported at one point that Jacob's MRI scan showed a dark mark on the place on his spine where there was a tumor last year. The worry was that the tumor had come back.

After much anxiety and a biopsy, doctors found that the bone mass on his spine was NOT cancerous. We're wildly relieved, as you can imagine.

Prayers certainly do work. Thank you so much.

The picture above is of my family and Jacob's family last year during his cancer treatment.

Thanks for the Donations

I'm happy to report that December's Seed Campaign efforts have raised, $1,034 for CureSearach, the wonderful organization that is looking for a cure for childhood cancer.

This breaks down to $300 in direct donations to CureSearch in Jacob's name and $734 in commissions from Amazon.

That $734 means that more than $11,000 in merchandise was bought on Amazon through my website. This is tremendous. And SO appreciated!

Please contact me if you still want to make a direct donation to CureSearch in Jacob's name.

Click here to find out more about CureSearch's wonderful work.

A New Year of Giving

This month, January, the Seed Campaign will be donating to Abrazando Cristo, a wonderful Roman Catholic mission program based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, that came to the aid of people in Nicaragua after devastating Hurricane Mitch and continues to work in Nicaragua and Honduras. One of its main projects is helping to educate children at the San Cristobal (Nicaragua) Orphanage.

Abrazando Cristo came to my attention through a member of the Southwest Louisiana chapter of the Pulpwood Queens book club (a national book club with some 200 chapters). The chapter has raised money for the mission and many members have even gone down to Nicauraga to help with the project.

The Pulpwood Queens book club--specifically this chapter in Louisiana--has been very supportive of my book. And I'm happy to embrace one of the chapter's cherished causes.

If you have anything to purchase at Amazon, please go to my website first and click on buy the book. Then from my book page, you can puchrase anything else on Amazon and the money will go to Abrazando Cristo's work.

Click here to go to my website:

Special Event in January

Speaking of the Pulpwood Queen book club: I've been invited to take part in their annual convention on Jan. 15-17 in Jefferson, Texas.

If any of you are in the area, please come out and say hello.

Click here to learn more about the Pulpwood Queen's convention.

One more thing. Please check out a column I wrote for Huffington Post about Holiday sharing. I hope it's a sentiment we can all keep in mind during the coming year.

My Huffington Post column

Fondly--

Jeannie Ralston

This One is For My Nephew, Jacob

2008-12-01T15:39:00.000-08:00

We're into the 4th month of my give-back program called The Seed Campaign, and in December the goal is to raise money to cure childhood cancer!

What Could be a Better Gift for Kids than a Cancer Cure?

When you buy a copy of my book through my website, www.jeannieralston.com, the commission Amazon gives back will be donated to CureSearch, in the name of my nephew Jacob Ralston (that's him at age 3 in this adorable photo).

In August 2007, at the heartbreakingly young age of 2, Jacob was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. As you can imagine his parents and his whole extended family were devastated.

For 9 months Jacob kept his spirits up while undergoing chemo and proton therapy, and thankfully today his scans are all clear. We all know how lucky he is and we pray that the luck holds. (Please join in the prayers that on Dec. 3rd his scans come back with "no evidence of disease.")

In the meantime, much needs to be done to find a cure. My sister-in-law and brother think CureSearch is doing amazing work to this end, and that's why in December all funds raised through The Seed Campaign will be donated to CureSearch in honor of Jacob and the fight that he's been waging.

Here's How You Do It

You can help Jacob and others like him by remembering to go to my website first for any Christmas shopping you do on Amazon. If you click on "Buy the Book" on my website, that will take you to Amazon and then you can shop for anything from that point and the Seed Campaign will get a commission for your purchases.

You Can Also Give Directly

If you're not going to be shopping on Amazon this season, but want to help out, you can make a direct donation to CureSearch. Send a check made out to CureSearch to:

Jim and Susan Ralston
P.O. Box 55267
Virginia Beach, VA 23471

In the memo, please write: In honor of Jacob Ralston. Jacob will make the presentation of the checks to CureSearch. THANK YOU!

November's Results: Helping Readers

Also, I want you to know that through your generosity and purchases, the Seed Campaign was able to raise $347 for Literacy Texas in November. Thank you so much for supporting my book and in the process helping others to enjoy reading!

Happy Holidays to all of you.

Oh...if you're in the Austin or Hill Country area, I'll be up your way this weekend (Dec. 5-7) appearing at 3 events. Please check my website for my schedule and come and visit!

All best wishes--Jeannie

The Big Texas To-Do and Other Fun

2008-11-03T11:00:00.001-08:00

I'm all bleary-eyed this morning after 12 days on the road, promoting The Unlikely Lavender Queen. An author's work is never done...that's my new motto. I'm exhausted but very happy.

My trip started in Skaneateles, New York, a suburb of Syracuse. I was told to pronounce it "Skinny Atlas," like a very thin volume of maps. It is a gorgeous spot on one of the Finger Lakes and I got there just in time to see the fall colors--something I've sorely missed for the past 17 years living in Texas and Mexico.

I was the keynote speaker at a fundraiser for the Carol Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund. Baldwin is a cancer survivor and most famously, the mother of Alec and the rest of the Baldwin brothers. After hearing the mom speak, you can tell where the sons get their sense of humor. The event--which was put on by a friend Laura Ponticello--raised $2,235 for breast cancer research. I was thrilled to be part of the effort.

There is more good financial news. (Isn't it nice to get good financial news for a change?) Through my Seed Campaign (buy a book via my website and the commission from Amazon goes to support a worthy cause), I raised $1,023 for the John Dau Sudan Foundation. John Dau is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan and the subject of the movie God Grew Tired of Us. I was thrilled to present checks to his representatives. The second photo above (the one without any crowns involved) is of me with the movie poster and some of the supporters I got to meet up in the Syracuse area (John goes to Syracuse University).

While up in the chilly north, I got to speak at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. The Newhouse School is a very famous journalism school and I loved meeting the students. Most of them wondered what kind of opportunities they might have when they graduate. I hated that at a time like this, I could think of only one word of advice: Blog.

After New York, I was back in Texas for a couple of radio interviews and two great events--one was a woman's event at a new work-life balance center called Soma Vida, on Austin's east side.

Then this past weekend came the Big Daddy--the Texas Book Festival. What an amazing event. How fabulous to be included and to meet so many other authors that I've admired, such as Alexandra Fuller (Let's Not Go To the Dogs Tonight), Sarah Bird (How Perfect Is That), Terry Thompson Anderson (The Hill Country). I also got to see my old friend Marion Winik (Glen Rock Book of the Dead) and I served on a panel on memoirs with three great writers, Stephanie Klein (Moose), Robert Leleux (The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy) and Stephanie Elizondo Greist (Mexican Enough).

One of my favorite new author-friends is Kathy Patrick, who started a salon/bookstore in East Texas called Beauty and the Book. She also started the Pulpwood Queens Book Club and now there are 200 chapters across the country. She's the author of The Pulpwood Queen's Tiara-Wearing Book-Sharing Guide to Life.

That's a picture of me with Kathy at the very top of the blog. Next time I meet I've got to get my tiara on! And that next time will be in January when I take part in her Book Club Convention/Girlfriend Weekend. Should be a hoot. Find out more about the book-and-fun-lovers weekend here.

More news: My Seed Campaign effort in November will benefit Literacy Texas, a non-profit advocacy group that aims to get everybody in Texas reading. Buy a book via my website this month and the commission from Amazon will go to create more readers. And one thing writers like is more readers!!

I have more fun events coming up in December--all in the Austin area. More details on my website.

Dec. 5th: Book Signing at Beekman Books in Fredericksburg
Dec. 6th: Lake Austin Spa
Dec. 7th: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin

Also: links to some recent publicity.

Dana Roc website
Daryn Kagan website
Growing Concerns on KUT radio Austin

I Love It When Someone Really Gets It

2008-10-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky to have been found by Dana Roc, who runs a beautiful website and newsletter devoted to helping people live fuller lives. She featured an interview with me this week in her Inspiring People series, and I have to say that I think she's the inspiring one.

Please check it out. Our talk really got to some of the key themes of the book that I have wanted to make sure people understood. The main one is about control. How we're not in control so much of what happens to us, but we are in control of our attitude toward what happens to us. Such a big lesson in life.

Read the whole interview.

I also want to tell you that we've made great progress collecting funds for October's beneficiary of the Seed Campaign, the John Dau Foundation. One of my readers issues a challenge to everyone who had already bought my book to donate $100 to the foundation and many of you have responded.

We're also trying to track down a used ambulance that can be donated to Dau's clinic in Sudan AND a way to get the ambulance delivered there. So we're working.

I tell you, I thought writing a book was rewarding. But I've decided that finding a way to help people is the most rewarding thing of all. Thanks for your help.

Sharing the Luck and the Love

2008-10-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a difference some dedicated readers can make. I launched The Seed Campaign only four weeks ago, and so much has come from it already. As you remember, if you buy a copy of The Unlikely Lavender Queen via my website, www.jeannieralston.com, dear Amazon will give back a commission to The Seed Campaign. Every month I'll be donating these funds to a different cause.

I'm happy to report that through your efforts, I'll be able to give about $300 to St. Anthony's Alliance, which started and still supports the lavender co-op here in Mexico. $300 will go a long way in Mexico toward helping the lavender growers and soap makers in the pueblo expand their business and marketing. Thank you so much for your support of my book and this effort. What's more, by promoting The Seed Campaign, the lavender co-op has gotten more exposure. Several national media outlets are considering stories on the lavender co-op. Let's cross our fingers for that to happen. Also, several of you have written me with ideas on how to do even more with the lavender co-op. One very nice university professor has talked about having a class of hers plan a lavender festival here in the San Miguel area. I'll keep you posted on all of this.

Now that we're in October, The Seed Campaign will be moving on to another amazing organization doing wonderful work--this time in a very different part of the world. I'm sure many of you have heard of The Lost Boys of Sudan. These boys--from ages 5 to 14--walked 1,000 miles to find refuge after civil war broke out in Sudan in the 90s.

One of the Lost Boys is named John Bul Dau; he has written a memoir himself called God Grew Tired of Us and he's the subject of one of the most moving documentaries I've ever seen--also called God Grew Tired of Us. Robb and I watched the movie with the boys the other evening and I swear if everyone--especially children--in the U.S. saw that film I think we would have a different country. You just can't believe what the young men in the film have lived through and how they've come out of it with their spirits intact. John Dau and the other Lost Boys in the film have such gratitude for what they DO have and such commitment to give back to others who haven't been as "lucky." The movie truly blew me away.

I have the great honor of donating to the John Dau Sudan Foundation this month. I got hooked up with John and his work through a new dear friend named Laura Ponticello, who has arranged all kinds of events for me at the end of October in the Syracuse, New York, area. The funds earned through sales of my book via my website will go to a health clinic John has founded in Sudan. I've said before that I think the most important message of my book is making the most of the twists and turns life takes, and John Dau has done that in a way far beyond what I could ever dream of. Please visit the website, www.johndaufoundation.org to learn more about his truly inspiring cause. You can also see the attached video about the Seed Campaign effort.

I do hope you will tell your friends about this month's effort. My goal is to donate even more money from The Seed Campaign this month. If you've already bought my book, I thank you so much. If you haven't, please consider buying my book this month along with the film God Grew Tired of Us. Or just buy the film itself. But make sure you first go to my website and click on buy the book (you can go anywhere on Amazon from my book's home page). The Seed Campaign does not get a commission from Amazon unless you start the process on my website.

I also want to tell you about some upcoming events (details are on my website).

Oct. 10th--San Miguel de Allende; author's sala reading.
Oct. 23rd--Skaneateles, NY; keynote speaker at a cancer research fundraiser
Oct. 24th--Syracuse, NY; speaking at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Oct. 29th--Austin, TX; evening of rejuvenation at Soma Vida
Nov. 1 & 2--Austin, TX; Texas Book Festival, where I'll introduce November's effort to benefit Literacy Texas.
Jan. 15-17--East Texas; speaker, Pulpwood Queen Book Club Convention

Hope to see some of you along the way. Thank you.

Planting Lavender--and Hope--Across the Border

2008-09-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

This summer I was fortunate to have many wonderful events on the tour for my new book, The Unlikely Lavender Queen: A Memoir of Unexpected Blossoming. But my favorite event was held in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where I now live. I turned the book signing into a benefit, with one-third of the price of each book sold going to a lavender co-op in a small pueblo outside of San Miguel. The co-op is trying to become self-sufficient growing lavender as a cash crop, making soaps, sachets and lavender wands in the tourist town of San Miguel. The idea is that if the co-op becomes a success--it's well on its way, with 2 acres of gorgeous purple rows--the many men who leave the pueblo every year for work in the States can stay home instead.

I have volunteered as an adviser to the co-op for 2 years and it's wonderful to be able to use my lavender experience to help such a worthwhile cause. The signing/benefit was the most rewarding event because it was about more than just me (I know that may sound strange--or even suspect--coming from a memoirist, but it's true).

In that spirit, I've been looking for another way to give back, and I've found something amazingly simple and really effective. I'm calling it The Seed Campaign. Here's how it works:
When you buy my book, or ANY Amazon product, by first going to my website, www.jeannieralston.com, Amazon will give 4 to 8 percent of sales back to The Seed Campaign (percentages increase with volume). I will donate each month's total to a worthy organization, a different cause each month. My goal is to raise $60,000 this coming year. It’s important that you go to Amazon through my website, so that Amazon can credit the Seed Campaign.

I started this campaign because my book is about making the most of the twist and turns life takes, and when I realized that the Amazon account was collecting money, I saw it was a great opportunity to reinforce the message of the book—by actually helping other people make the most of their lives.

For this first month--September--I will be donating all funds in The Seed Campaign to St. Anthony's Alliance, a U.S.-based non-profit that started and has continued to support the lavender co-op that I gave the benefit for this summer. This project has it all for me: lavender, Mexico, women, entrepreneurship, family. Money from my book sales will go to a project that truly offers hope and the promise of self-sufficiency through the same flower that did so much for me!

In October, funds will be going to the John Dau Sudan Foundation. John Dau is a Lost Boy of Sudan and the subject of the film, God Grew Tired of Us. I will speak at a benefit for the foundation in New York in late October.

I hope you'll help me out. Together we can grow hope and plant seeds of change for the future. Thank you--Jeannie