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!