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.

An American Writer

The days of my First Annual Rogue Bud Writing Competition are drawing to a close. It'll soon be time for me to make a final decision as to whom I will come alongside and help to actually create a book. It is a very long and complex process, most of which is the working of the words - getting them on a page. Not only does the story have to compel the reader forward, but the story lines have to be consistent and also believable.

I have come to be quite fond of all of you. It's a two way street here. Not only did I have to see value in you and in your work, but you also had to step out and trust a total stranger with your precious hard work. I will not abuse that trust.

I am going to share a piece that I wrote a couple of years ago. It will be included in a book that I am currently working on called Crooked Places Straight: Straight Talk About Hard Places. It's one of the many things that are hidden in the hard-drive of my now deceased computer. I had blogged this short exhortation on my other blog, http://Joyfulnoizministries.blogspot.com/ The Road Less Traveled, or I might not have had a copy of it at all. I don't always write in my hard copy notebooks like I use to... Ah, technology. I'll know tonight if my files are retrievable. I try not to be anxious. I'm grateful for the few things that I know are not lost.

I understand the hard work and hours of effort that has gone into your work. Here is a short piece to help you to have a little better understanding of me and of who I am.

An American Writer

Now what in the world could a blue eyed all American girl know about being An American Writer? How does one get to be An American Writer? Must one go abroad? To be culturally savvy surely one must be a world traveler? Is that not true? But how about the mean streets of indifference? Can not a person gain insights and understanding in the stained and dirty suburbs of any given city within the parameters of any given society?

Are not the basic needs of any culture centered upon humanity as a whole? People need to feel included and accepted and understood. People need the warmth of a touch; the healing mercy of a smile; a compassionate glance of tolerance.

Is there not a oneness with creation that begs belonging?

You can teach me about all of the pain and the suffering and the great injustices of the world. You can teach me about all of the world religions and belief systems. You can teach me about Socrates and the great minds of days gone by. But can you teach me to care? I mean to really care: To reach out my hand to the helpless; to the desolate; to the rejected. Can you show me the way to right all of the past wrongs? Can you show me how to restore lost cities, lost hopes, or lost dreams? Is there anything that I could possibly have to write that would matter? What kind of a message can a girl from the city, from the country, from the uppermost part of New York have to say?

A world traveler? No, I am not. As a young divorced mother of three I did go to Mexico once. I saw the poverty and the lack. I saw the hopelessness and despair. But these things I saw on the memory of the back hand of a less than honorable man. These things I saw firsthand as macaroni and cheese, out of a box, no less, was a mainstay in my children’s diet for lack of education, income, and opportunity.

And how about intolerance? That I experienced outside of the conventional box of religion or politics. That I experienced at the back of the line; the welfare line as I was forced to ‘apply’ for State assistance. Was I greeted with compassion or care either one? No. I was greeted by an overworked paper pusher that most likely could afford Velveeta cheese with her macaroni and not much more.

And my tears? They were wasted on indifference and a harsh predetermination that surely I was from poor stock or just lazy. How about abused? Was my pain no less real than any others that had suffered before me? Did I need to know of far away and far reaching social injustices and calamities to experience my own devastation and sorrow? What atomic bomb had savaged my childhood, and what ghastly plague had robbed me of my dignity? What greater loss can one experience that equals the loss of one’s own self?

Do I, a woman, a mother, an American, dare to compare my suffering with the great travesties of the world? Not even. My pain was only a scratch compared to the gaping wounds of those who have gone before. My pain had remedy; resolution; an end. So much suffering goes uncharted for the vastness of the wound – a world of pain and suffering, winked at by a society that considers their Starbuck’s coffee a cultural experience.

Am I naive? I am. Apathetic? Sometimes. Observant? Always. Am I an American Writer? I guess not. But what am I really? I am a voice; a voice of compassion; a voice of concern; a voice of hope: A voice of an American. I am the voice of a writer bleeding red, for the slaughtered, bleeding white for the innocents, and bleeding blue for the honest and true.

(C) Audrey Semprun
Joyful Noiz Ministries
4/8/08

Welcome aboard, Brenda!

Brenda Hernandez has made her timely debut! I'm glad to see that you have met the deadline, Brenda! I look forward to reading your submission of, "Blood Tempted". Sounds a little graphic! I think I was pre-warned, now wasn't I? That was a while back for sure!

I'm hoping that my last two contestants meet the November 1st deadline! Come on, Ben and Marissa! I watching and waiting for your requested material!!!

Welcome Vivian, Contestant Number Six

Vivian Kimi Tozaki has thrown down the gauntlet with her requested first three chapters of her "Untitled" submission. I can't even begin to tell you all how much I appreciate the time and the effort that you have put forth for this competition! It's really going to be fun to actually produce a book for one of you!

As far as my own projects go I have had to endure a delay as I had a bad storm take out my computer! I'm happy to say that I have a different system now, but my files are still in limbo... For a writer I can say that the agony of the unknown has been quite difficult! I get pretty busy with my writing, and I'm working on a gal's memoirs that is kind of 'lost' for right now too... I guess we all have to endure our own trials and tribulations! Hang in there is all that I can say! And for the remaining three of you, I encourage you to step on out there and send me your requested material!

Welcome Aboard Contestant Number Five!

I am happy to announce that I have received Julianna DelVecchio's requested material, "Out of the Ashes"! The time is running short folks! I expect to be receiving the rest of my contestant's material no later than November 1st! Anything later than that deadline will not qualify for consiseration.

One thing that I have noticed consistantly is that these submissions are very short! The first three chapters generally means about forty-five to sixty pages... I have received as few as fifteen pages, which gives me very little to judge the writing on. Some publishers only want to see the first five pages, but I am not cut from the same cloth or mind-set. I've also seen a lack of character discription in some of the submissions. I would welcome a revised submission from the first five contestants if you feel that you could improve upon your offering... I will send this blog entry to all nine of my contestants in an email so that I know that everyone has a fair shot at becoming The Rogue Bud for 2010. I continue to wish each and every one of you the very best!

Two More Entries!

I'm excited to announce that two more pieces of the puzzle have surfaced! Welcome aboard Adithya with your submission of "Sophia Learns to Smile", and also Miss Cassandra with your submission of "The Mentors". You have all given me much to think about! It's going to really be hard to choose just one winner, but that I must!
I see that some of you have been chatting and making friends. I think that's wonderful! Friendship truly is a special gift! Be good to each other!

And Then There Were Nine

Ursula Wong has had a different and exciting opportunity presented to her for her current work in progress and had to step away from our competition. I know that everyone wishes her the very best!!!

Good Luck Ursula!

Zane Vlasova, Contestant Number Two

I received the first three chapters from Zane Vlasova's "Dream"! Two down, eight to go! I'm sure looking forward to reading all of the entries! It's going to be so hard to actually pick only one winner! That's the rules though!!!

Jim Barringer, Contestant Number One

I have my first three chapters from Jim Barringer's "New Life Church"! Good job Jim! I have found your name on my puzzle and circled it. Now we only have nine more to go!

Rogue Bud Writing Competition Finalists

Searching for the WINNER!

I'm excited to announce the ten finalists for my First Annual Rogue Bud Writing Competition in honor of Joel Muska!

It was hard for me to send out letters to the ones that I could not select as finalists. I appreciate all of the interest and the obvious hard work that the submissions relayed.

Here are the finalists, in alphabetical order. Congratulations everyone! I am looking forward to reading your first three chapters!!! Keep in mind that the deadline for your requested material is November 1st, 2010. At that time I will need to know that you have completed your work in progress!

Good luck and God bless!!!

Rose Audrey



Jim Barringer:

“I'm a young pastor doing what I feel God has called me to do and waiting faithfully on him, and I'm writing this letter because I feel that you might be the instrument of his providence. He works in strange ways, but he rarely accomplishes his goals using a miracle when he could accomplish them through another believer instead. If you believe in what I'm doing here in Orlando, then please prayerfully consider if you might be the one God uses to bring his plan to pass in my life.”

Cassandra Nicole Bonde:

“For four years I have been trying as hard as I possibly could to finish what I started. I had huge dreams and plans but no way to put them into action without a completed manuscript. My mom read my stories over and over with always the same comment, "Where did you find this? You didn't copy it from anything, right? You know that's wrong.” And I always replied with the same roll of my eyes and told her I had written it by myself. Then she proceeded to tell me that I needed to finish it before I worried about anything else.”

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.”

Brenda Hernandez:

“I am a writer. A thinker. A creator. The reason I want to publish my novel is because my dream is to become an author someday. An author who inspires people with their creativity. I like the idea of expressing my imagination on paper. Like many artists say they express their imagination by painting or drawing. Well I express my imagination by writing. It gives me a sense of freedom.”

Adithya Kumar:

“I believe that any story should be enjoyed by both children and adults alike irrespective of any creed, nationality, race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Apart from carrying any specific theme in a story, I also truly believe that a story should also try to incorporate other innate meanings that are relevant to today’s world and society.”

Marissa McNicholas:

“I have been writing my whole life. The second I could hold a pencil I was writing, and when I could reach the computer I have typed stories then, and all of my life. I am a very dedicated writer. I want to be published young, and I wish that people will enjoy my books. I don’t want to write for the fame, but I love to read books, and I want to bring that joy to others.”

Vivian Kimi Tozaki, Esq.:

“I hope that you select my novel for publication so that my story will reach millions of young girls seeking much needed inspiration. I was born in the Mississippi Delta and learned to survive on my own by the age of 13. Physical abuse, neglectful parents, racism, cancer, and being kicked out of school by the tenth grade, are all pieces of my inspiring true story. Today, I am a high-spirited New York attorney living in Manhattan.”

Julianna Del Vecchio:

“Truthfully I don't deserve this very special opportunity. I haven't done anything to earn it-and I am not any worthier then my next door neighbor. I can’t think of why I deserve it any more then anyone else, but one thing I do know is I would make the most of it. Dreams. Goals. Wishes. Everyone has them, and sadly so few ever actually get the chance to accomplish them. I believe there are three types of people: people who dream, people who do, and people who do what they dream. I know without a doubt the third group is where I want to be. And I will work as hard as I have to in order to get there.”

Zane Vlasova:

“I wanted to write a book not only because I had a story and characters in my mind, that would refuse to leave me at peace. I wanted to challenge myself; I wanted to explore more than just my characters, their relationships or their lives. I wanted to explore things never before done in my Life and places never before visited. I wanted to see, feel and breathe the City I’ve only seen in movies, photos or dreams…anywhere or anyhow else, but not in reality, not with my own eyes, not with my own senses, not with my own foot on the City’s pavement!”

The sun has set upon my writing contest

Thank you for your interest in my writing contest. I will now be taking a little bit of time to consider the entries carefully before I make my final decisions as to whom I will select to request to see three chapters of their manuscripts.

I will personally be contacting each contestant (regarding if they are selected to be a finalist in my competition or not) by email no later than September 26th which is a Sunday night. For those of you whom I am not able to select to be a finalist I will be sending a link for a free upload of a book by an established writing enthusiast.

If you are selected to be a finalist and I request to see your work then you will have a timeline of no later than November 1st, 2010 to submit the requested material. If you are not asked to send more material then please do not. It will be deleted, unread.

I've had a wonderful response to my First Annual Rogue Bud Writing Competition and I've got some really interesting proposals to consider. Again, I thank you and look forward to reading the submissions!

Mid-Way Contest Clarifications

How about a nice yellow rose? Thought I'd change it up a bit.

I received an email from an interested aspiring author and I thought that his questions were very good and certainly worth sharing! I replied to his email and here are the answers that I gave for his questions.

Questions-

Q: Does the winner get to keep all copyrights?

A: Yes. I will only have my ministry name as the Publisher. It will be the author's responsibility to seek an official copyright, as noted in the contest guidelines. When creating the book I will have the author's name as the copyright holder.

Q: Do you have to have the book completed to enter the contest?

A: It would be preferred, but not a deal breaker.

Q: Where will it be published (online or in stores)

A: It will be a paper back book. It will be the winner's choice as to whether they purchase an ISBN to have it available for distribution in stores. The author can have it available for public purchase through the LULU storefront, which is online, or they can keep it private, meaning only available to the author. LULU offers many marketing packages which will be the sole responsibility of the author to purchase if they so desire. You would have the option of selling your book as a paperback book or as a download on LULU.

Q: Who keeps the profits off the book?

A: It will be the sole property of the author. I will not make any money on the book at all.

Q: Does the author get to write the book and have the help of the person, or does the person take your idea and write the book?

A: I am not writing a novel for anyone. My help will be in formatting the book and creating a tangible book with cover. If it needs too much editorial assistance it will not win the contest in the first place.

Keep the entries coming! I love to read them! I'm excited to have this opportunity! I look forward to helping someone see their vision of creating a book of their own become a reality!!!

Rose Audrey

First Annual Rogue Bud Writing Competition

First Annual Rogue Bud Writing Competition Sponsored by
Rose Audrey In Honor of Joel Muska

First Place Prize
I will Publish your Book!

Let me take your words and transform them into a work of art. I can help you to produce a quality product and it will be yours to do with as you like. I will design a cover for your creation and I will format your words into a book. Then I will set you up with your own account with Lulu.com and you will have a world wide web storefront featuring your very own book!
*ISBN purchase winner’s responsibility as well as copyright.

Do you have an unfulfilled vision of some day becoming a published author?
Do you have an outstanding work ethic? Do you have a great attitude?
Are you a team player? If so this contest is for you! I am now accepting submissions for novels to consider for publication. See contest guidelines.

Contest Guidelines:

Please email me an 800 word or less essay on why I should select your novel to be considered for publication. Include a one page synopsis of your novel with the entry essay. (One page synopsis will not be included in word count.) I will review the submissions and select ten people whom I will then request to see more of their work. I am a Christian and the work must reflect high moral values.

Joel Muska is my co-worker who is retiring and I wanted to do something to honor his persistence, reliability, great attitude and stellar work ethic.
If you feel that you have something substantial to offer please contact me!!!

Initial Submission Deadline:
September 15, 2010
No late entries will qualify

Email Contest Entries to:
Joyfulnoizministries@yahoo.com
Subject line must say: Rogue Bud Competition

Rose Audrey

I'm changing it all up around here. I'm re-inventing myself. I'll start with my new Avatar. I have to upload it to my profile, but that's no big deal. I have lots to do on my To Do List... Speaking of To Do Lists - that's what started this reinvention of myself in the first place! My submission of my first novel was twiddled down to a publisher's To Do List, and publishing me wasn't on it. It's hard to feel very important these days...

This beautiful watercolor of this rose is a gift to me from the artist. She gave me carte-blanche permission to use the painting as I please, and she put it in writing... Thank you Marion Wist for such a gracious and wonderful gift. I will not abuse the privilege.

The gift of the painting started out as a gift of two prints. One of the prints I gave to my mother. It is the print of the original that I now own. The second one was a print that had two roses on it. I had taken the print to a local print shop and had asked them to produce a sympathy card that I had created with one of my original poems on it. I had asked Marion for her permission to do so. Well, long story short, the owner of the print shop was familiar with Marion's work and refused to print the card for me as she knew that it wasn't my art. Marion met me at the print shop and gave a verbal on the order. Only she had sold the original of the two roses and needed the print back. She felt so bad about how I had been treated and how badly my integrity had been questioned that she gave me the original artwork and the written permission to use it as I pleased. It wasn't a nice situation, but it was most certainly a nice gesture by an equally nice lady!

My integrity has been sorely tested these last few months. Going on a year now even. But no worries! I no longer hang out at my old stomping grounds. The sum of two years of my life has been spent being aggravated. Where do I belong? I had to update this post. I can't be mixing my life with my work life. Sigh*

I'm a writer. I've come so close to publishing. I've worked so hard for legitimacy. I've done all of the research. I've done my homework. I have submitted. I have refined my work. I have waited. I have rebelled. I have gone Rogue. I will show the publishing industry what self publishing really looks like. Joyful Noiz Ministries is an Independent Publisher. Joyful Noiz Ministries is the umbrella that I will publish all of my work under. I'll learn more. I'll work harder than before. I won't look back. And the main thing that I will do is that I will not ask anyone's permission to do so! Welcome to The Rogue Rose.