Current Work in Progress

This is the cover of my current work in progress. I'm still working with Kimi to come up with a cover for her book! Sometimes the progress in this business is slow! I had come up with one cover, but we decided that it wasn't quite right! I'll update as soon as I can!

I can't believe that it's already late January! Where does the time go?

I hope that everyone is keeping warm! There sure has been a lot of snow this year!

My Favorite Things

I can't believe that it's 1/1/11!!! I've been taking myself and life far too seriously, getting all introspective and full of strange thoughts and even a bit of doubts. I wrote a poem yesterday. Here's the poem and a fun video. Still working on my friend's memoirs, Darkest before the Dawn. Watch for a soon-coming announcement concerning my First Annual Rogue Bud Writing Competition...

Rainy Day

Shadows casting over my dreams. Your love, it comforts me. Decisions mounting me high as the morning Reaching as far as the sun. Rainbows of mercy surrounding my soul Moon-beams of hope shining through. A new day has dawned No longer undone With assurrance the depth of the sea. Your love, it comforts me.

2010 Rogue Bud Vivian Tozaki

Welcome aboart, Vivian! I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to create your Rogue Bud! After I lost my computer I had to be extremely patient as I had also lost all of my photo editing programs! I uploaded "Gimp", but I was not very good at creating with it! I was able to find one of the programs that I used to have and now I'm back at it! Now all that I have to do is to get back to writing, but somehow I've become an editor of sorts... I'm still trying to figure out how that happened! I have a cover that I've created for "Un-Entitled", if indeed that is to be the title! I'm watching and waiting for that finished manuscript!!! I'll email you the prototype Vivian, and see if you like it. I hope that you do!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I was able to spend some time with my parents and lots of other family members. We went to the California Coast and it was lovely! I grew up on the beaches of California and sometimes I miss the tranquility and the peacefulness that I've always found as I've enjoyed the sights and the sounds of the sea. Speaking of that, it reminds me of a Parable that I once wrote. It's called, The Seashell. I'll share.

The Seashell

A lonely lady wandered by the sea. The waves tumbled onto the shore in rhythm, as the sound of her feet softly made their own song. Timidly stepping into the water, she felt something resting against her foot. She reached her hand down into the mysteries of the ocean floor and found that she had discovered a seashell. The beauty of the shell captivated her, and she knew that it was to be hers, for she could not part with the treasure that she had found. She clasped it next to her breast and was filled with joy of life. Her heart beat rapidly and she knew that there was something special about the shell that she had found. Perhaps it can tell me the why of everything, she thought dreamily. She raised it to her ear, and it did. 1/85 A parable about Love. A parable about Jesus.

I'll share a photo that I took at Venice Beach while on my mini-vacation. I was at the skate park and I glanced over my shoulder and saw this amazing sunset! I grabbed my camera and captured the moment!

Letter from Cynthia, Age 15

This letter is from one of the girls that Vivian "Kimi" has had the opportunity to help as she (the young teen) searches for answers in a not so friendly environment of the criminal justice system. (Just click on the picture to enlarge it to be able to read it better.)

This is Kimi's dream - to be able to make a difference through sharing her own heartbreaks and experiences.

Follow Vivian Kimi Tozaki on her Facebook page!

(I don't do Facebook or Twitter yet. It's hard enough for me to juggle my home life with my work and my family - not to mention the writing projects that I have started and need to complete!!!)

I would like to announce my choice for the winner of The First Annual Rogue Bud Writing Competition in honor of Joel Muska. Congratulations Vivian "Kimi" Tozaki! You are my selection to be the Rogue Bud for 2010! I look forward to working together with Kimi on her book that is tentatively titled, "Un-Entitiled." Kimi is a Manhattan Attorney who has a heart to help young girls. I greatly look forward to helping Kimi to expand her vision and see her story become a published reality!

All of you were wonderful to work with and I sincerely appreciate the trust and determination that you have shown me throughout this process. It all goes back to my initial purpose for this contest in the first place. I wanted to honor a friend of mine for his hard work, determination to be the best that he could be, and to show my appreciation for his faithfulness as a loyal co-worker. Joel Muska is a wonderful man and I know that he would also be very proud of you all. This one's for you, Joel!

I never realized how hard it would be to sponsor a writing competition! I know first-hand the painful disappointment that having my own writing rejected brings. I have been told so many times that it's not personal. Well, tell the tears that they aren't mine either! My heart goes out to every one of you whom I did not select as the winner of this contest. If the Lord is willing, I will travel this road again... No one knows what the future will bring. For now, I'll complete what I have started! I'll be posting Kimi's book cover as soon as she and I know that we are on the same page with it! It's not in my heart to be over-bearing or a bully! A good rule of thumb for life in general is: We have to agree to agree, and even if we can't come to that happy place of agreement, we have to be respectful of our differences! I'm excited for what the future holds!

As I stated to each and every one of you in what had to be the hardest emails that I have ever sent... Never give up on your dreams!!!

Entertaining Myself

This is the most recent cover that I have created. It's for a book of clip art and short snippits that I've thought up concerning my work place.

So there are eight of you in my contest... I'm sorry that I never heard back from Benjamin, but I am sure that he has his reasons and I will respect that.

As writing is my 'Secret Life' I need to get off of this computer and off to work.

I want to thank all of you for your participation in my writing competition in honor of Joel Muska. We sure do miss him around the office!!!

I will post my decision for the winner of The First Annual Rogue Bud Writing Competition as soon as I can decide. It's going to be a very difficult decision to make! I wish each and every one of you the very best!

Marissa Squeaks In!

Congratulations Marissa! I received your entry of "There She Goes". I knew that you wouldn't disappoint us! I sure do have my work cut out for me! But with my computer up and running - full of all - and I do mean all - of my old files - I have a renewed hope and attitude! I'm just looking for that last entry from Benjamin! It's not too late to get it in to me. Here is a reminder of why I selected Ben to be a finalist in the first place!

Benjamin Brindise:

“My life’s ambition is to write something that would influence people to stop for a moment and think about the underlying things in life. The darkness that surrounds us, but also the endless possibilities the world has if you can break free of the mundane and focus on your own course. I believe strongly in something Stephen King once said, “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”

It is a lot of hard work, but definitely worth the cost!!!

I will post the winner as soon as I make my decision. I expect to have the winner selected by no later than mid November so that I can begin the cover work as I await the completed manuscript.