I am now blogging!

Sorry dear readers that it has it been way too long since I last wrote in this journal!  But as you may or may not know, since my last entry, where I mention my stepdad was sick in the hospital, he passed away on August 2nd, 2005 and, then, two months later my own daddy passed away on October 13th, 2005... to say I am still grieving is an understatement. Oh! Almost forgot that a month after my dad passed away my husband had a heart attack; thank God it was mild and the surgeons were able to put a stent in one of his arteries that caused the heart attack! He is now back at work and eating much healthier than he had been. The year 2005 was not a good year for my family and me... but, so far, 2006 seems to be a better year for us.

Would also like to inform you all that I started Blogging!!! The blog is an extension of this Journal, my online magazine titled "The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine (A Progressive Online Magazine)" and my own writing. Do check it out when you get the time... http://thecatsmeowforwritersreaders.blogspot.com! My first blog entry was written the day before Easter Sunday, April 15, 2006.

More good news -- I'm having a short story I wrote published in a new anthology book titled "Midici Fiction, Potpourri #1," which is set for a publication date of October 31st, 2006. So far, "Midici Books" is definitely publishing 250 authors (I'm one of them) in their new anthology venture! The publishing industry is a tough business, and having either your poetry or short stories published in an Anthology seems to be the only break authors get...unless you decide to pay to have your own book published, which costs $1,000.00 or more to self-publish.Way out of the financial league of a lot of struggling authors! Once "Midici Books" is done with the final story submissions and production of their Book #1, it should be available for all my readers and subscribers to order copies online at http://www.midicibooks.net!  But, of course, I will keep everyone informed from now until after October 31st as to the progress and status of my anthology book. CJ, the founder of "Midici Books," had a vision and mission, and that was to give all new and established writers a break by having their stories published in his book...so CJ started his bookpublishing firm and named it "Midici Books" after the Meduci Italian family in Florence, Italy. Stay tuned for more news on how the book is coming along...

I'm pretty excited about the book and, now, this new endeavor with my 'blog'... my hubby told me that everyone at his job is talking about 'blogging' now! I started blogging because I figured my blog can be an extension of my publishing "The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine (A Progressive Online Magazine)" and this AOL Journal. I'm happy to report that I have lots of ideas as to what I can write in my Blog that will be helpful to you... so please stay tuned for more posting I'll be doing on my new blog! Once again, my blog's address is http://thecatsmeowforwritersreaders.blogspot.com.

That's it for now everyone ... will write more here when I'm not so darn BUSY. Thanks for reading my Journal, Blog, Online Magazine and My Writing!

Rosanne (a.k.a. R.C.Kayla),

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief and Writer/Author

Publisher: "The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine" (A Progressive Online Magazine); Author: "Touch of Tomorrow - In Loving Memory" (book of poetry) and numerous short stories, poetry and articles published online and in print.

Author Website & the Home of "The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine" (A Progressive Online Magazine): http://www.rosannecatalano.net

P.S. If anyone ever tells you grieving for a loved one is easy, they don't know of what they speak... grieving for my daddy and stepdad is sooo much harder than I ever thought possible... the memories of my childhood keep flooding into the recesses of my mind; happy times with my dad (and stepdad) and even some fights I had with both as I got older... both my dads' were forever telling me I didn't listen to them! I'm glad I didn't, if I had I wouldn't be a published author and the publisher & editor-in-chief of the online magazine I created to complement my official author website! Btw, my ezine has gained a loyal following of readers and subscribers, and continues to gain more subscribers every day. So I'm glad I fought listening to my two dads'... Though I dearly love them both, in different ways, I do realize their fighting with me when I was younger was because they were only looking out for me, and did not want me to get hurt or brokenhearted with this writing profession. What they didn't realize is that writing is my passion, and there is no way I will ever give up on writing! Thanks Dad, for loving and caring about me, and thanks Clint, for loving and caring about me too; I was only your 'step'child, not your biological child and you didn't have to love and care about me, but you did. For that I will always love you like a second father! My daddy I loved unconditionally, and always will love him...when he passed away I felt as if someone had cut a part of me off. In other words, when my daddy died I felt as if a part of me also died with him... though I know both my dad and Clint are now in God's loving arms, I want them back to make up for not spending enough 'time' with them while they were alive and when I got older.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Newest Creation!

Hi everyone... Sorry it's been a long time since i've written in my journal/blog, have been so BUSY with my newest "baby," an e-zine I created which debuted on December 10, 2004 and has taken off since -- it's titled, "The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers" and has become so successful that I continually receive article, short story and poetry submissions in my inbox!! 

Also have been working on revisions to my author web site with the help of my assistant, Nancy... yep, hired myself a "virtual" assistant and I am forever in her debt for all the work she does for me!  PLUS, i have been busy submitting my own writing (poetry and short stories) for publication in various print & online magazines, and have had 2 more poems of mine published in the June 2005 issue of "The Pink Chameleon - Online magazine" (the poems can be found on my links page on my site)... I was so excited to have both poems published as one is a tribute to my beloved late grandmother, the other a tribute to both my loving parents (who have been divorced from each other over 30 years now, re-married to other's about 20 years or so...) It warmed my heart that the publisher/editor of "The Pink Chameleon" magazine published those two poems; they're titled, "Open Letter to Grandma" and "Dear Mom and Dad."

I am also currently working on a short story to submit to an anthology book for Boomer Women (my generation), and other short stories... along with my "novel-on-the-side," which i'm still working on offline!!  Stay tuned for more news on how my novel is coming along...

In-between all this, got some bad news about my stepdad... he has lung cancer and the doctor's say it's terminal so I have been calling my loving mom every single day as her heart is breaking at this awful time... Sometimes i truly wish i lived in Florida to be closer to my mom to help her out, ALL I CAN DO IS PRAY FOR MY MOM AND STEPDAD, and call my mom on the phone, as I can't ever live in FL due to my chronic pain, the humidity makes the pain worse -- Knowing that my sister and brother-in-law live close by my mom does help... please pray for my stepdad as he needs all the prayers he can get at this time.

Will write more another day... it's now 4:18 p.m. and my eyes are blurry from reading all the email submissions from my contributing authors and other writers... Hope all my dear readers are having a great day!

Rosanne,  writer/author and ezine chief editor

(a/k/a R.C.Kayla), http://www.rosannecatalano.net

"The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers" ezine

 

 

REVISION of "In Loving Memory"

Original version of this poem, I wrote in tribute to Barbara Ann Hoover, was published in an anthology of poetry, dated August 2004, titled "TOUCH OF TOMORROW" ... revised version was also published in CircleOfPoets.com's anthology (manuscript) of poetry, dated October 2004 and on their poetry website.

"IN LOVING MEMORY" (Revision)

Entered life in my darkest moment,

And listened like noone ever had,

Long confidential talks with a friend,

Now cease to be, and makes me sad.

Hanging together;

After work, dancing and dining out.

All ears; always trying

to see good

in people.

Her laugh could brighten your world,

Make everything better, though she was crying inside.

The Lord heard her cries said,

"Come with Me to a Paradise."

Leaving Barbara Ann in our hearts

and memories forever more.

(c.) 2004 Rosanne Catalano

 

 

Story on "Writersstories.com" website -- "DANI"

This is a "link" to a story I wrote and had published, on Writersstories.com, entitled, "DANI" a short story for children. Please click below to read, under "General Fiction," and REVIEW story, if appropriate. Thanks everyone!

Writer's Stories - Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Crime and many more....

 

 

 

 

First Love -- At Age 39!

It was raining the day I met the love of my life, and hadn't wanted to go out to pick up a friend because my car (no longer 'new') was not in good shape at all!  The driver's door wouldn't close - something to do with a broken hinge! - so I had to drive with one hand on the wheel, the other holding the door handle to keep the door from flying open!  I pulled into the train station to pick up this friend, and will never forget that all I saw in this big, brown Buick was 'his' gorgeous face, his 'sparkling' eyes ... even though he wasn't looking my way, I  had this overwhelming desire to run to him, kiss and hug him, and to never let him go!!! It felt as if a Higher Power were guiding me because everything else but my 'love' had receeded in my vision ... people walking to & from the train station, cars pulling in, etc.   What confused me was that I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS PERSON, WHY WAS I FEELING THIS WAY -- AS IF 'CUPID'S ARROW' HAD STRUCK ME?!? And, then in the next confusing instant I see an ugly face - like the devil - in the passenger side of this big car, got real scared, swerved my car quickly away to get out of there... and felt like a total idiot when I heard my friend's voice yelling from the back seat of this car with the 'gorgeous guy' and the devil!!!  But, I had a problem... the love of my life didn't seem to notice me (or so I thought!) until our eyes met and held in my living room -- and, even then, I wasn't sure he was actually looking into my eyes as I was his!! So I sunk to my knees behind my  former friend, to hide from the love of my life the strong 'effect' he was having over me - I had never, ever felt this way about anyone before!   On our first date, which happened a week after our locking eyes in the living room, we were both so nervous!!! He got lost picking me up, even though he had dropped my friend off a couple of times before; and I thought he had 'stood me up', started crying so much that I looked a 'fright' by the time he finally arrived ... I felt like a teenager on her 'first date', and found out later that my Sweetheart had felt the same way!!!  He was the man I had dreamed of falling in love with all my life but had never found until that fateful day...  It is now six and a half years later and, we're still so much in love that kissing in the supermarket is an everyday event...