DIANA L. GUERRERO’S ARK ANIMAL TRACKS
########################################################
Volume 2, Number 1 January 1, 2004
Publisher: Guerrero Ink
E-mail: arkabc@arkanimals.com or website http://www.arkanimals.com
Copyright 2004 Diana L. Guerrero All rights reserved
########################################################

Welcome to new subscribers and welcome back to all you veteran subscribers!
--------------------------------------------------------

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

May this New Year find you embarking on new adventures and innovative directions filled with success and happiness.

The holiday season in the mountains was snow filled—and a bit insane. Winter visitors are seasonal hazards, but we all survived the mania. We continue our snow dances while praying for an end to this serious draught.

Thanks for your continual support through book sales, writing event participation, and referrals for alternative animal training and therapy.
=======================================================


=======================================================
IN THIS ISSUE
=======================================================
1. Update on What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality

2. Alliance of Writers: Treasure Mapping & Magazine Workshop Dates Set

3. Animals: The Tao of Meow
======================================================
1. Update on What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality
======================================================
TRAVELING & CLIMBING THE RANKS!

The latest article about What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality: Inspiring Lessons of Wild and Tame Creatures appeared in a syndicated pet column on December 27, 2003. The interview was by a pet journalist based out of Akron, Ohio. She writes for the second largest newspaper conglomerate in the United States.

At last count over 2500 books have been shipped!

Personalized copies are the perfect gift for any animal lover or spiritually oriented person and can be ordered directly from the arkanimals.com website.

======================================================
BOOK TOUR UPDATES

Despite the winter weather road challenges, the book tour continues this month with new seminars and appearances throughout southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. So far, I’ve conducted one church service followed by a workshop. My next church service is scheduled for February.

Although I am still booking events, here are some of the confirmed appearance cities for this month:

January 11, 2004: Borders Books. Chino, California
January 13-14, 2004: Las Vegas, Nevada
January 22, 2004: Cox Cable Television Show. San Diego, California.
January 24, 2004: Barnes & Noble. Oceanside, California.

I enjoy conducting events for business groups, service groups, and as a fundraiser for animal related groups. A fee schedule is available upon request.

Animal lovers don’t forget to attend my behavior and career courses!
======================================================
CONTESTS

The leading bookseller for December sold 42 books! (She reports selling at least one or two a day.) Booksellers might be interested to know her success strategies:
·What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality is visible from the door and sits on the featured book table. At least six copies are always out on display.
·Posters* announcing the book availability are visible and next to the check-out register.
·Book Available Here poster* was placed at chest level on the store entrance door. (Viewable from the interior and exterior of the shop.)
·Event announcement flyers* were placed in bags of customers and a featured author poster* was exhibited for two weeks prior to events.

* These items are available for free on the arkanimals.com website in the press kit area.

Remember to email me with any booksellers carrying the book. These store get listed at the arkanimals.com website. Each month the top selling bookseller gets a free web page!
======================================================
REVIEWS STILL NEEDED

Word of mouth has always been the best advertising and your reviews and votes helped the book climb in the queue at both Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. If you have not yet done so, help with the word of mouth sales through posting your reviews at any of the following sites:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1893361845/

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=1893361845

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?AuthorID=771

=====================================================

=====================================================
2. Alliance of Writers: Treasure Mapping & Magazine Workshop Dates Set
=====================================================
Mark your calendars for:

Treasure Mapping 2004
Date: January 31, 2004
Time: Noon-3pm
Location: Fawnskin, California
Facilitator: Diana L. Guerrero
Invitation only.
Fee: $10 Materials Fee.

Brown Bag Symposium
Magazine Articles That Sell, Not Just Get Talked About.
Date: May 15, 2004
Enrollment deadline: May 1, 2004
Time: 10am-3pm (Includes 1/2 hour lunch break.)
Location: Fawnskin, California
Instructor: Rita Robinson
Enrollment is limited to 15 participants.
Fee: $40 prior to April 15, 2004 (or $50 on or after April 15.)
=====================================================
DETAILS: TREASURE MAPPING POTLUCK
=====================================================
Join others on January 31, 2004 from Noon until 3pm for a dynamic and fun session. This potluck gathering of writers will share tasty treats and “treasure map” for the upcoming year. Like ability writers will be introduced to each other so they can form Creative Circles in their local areas. The potluck will include opportunities to set goals and create fun, visual mapping guides.

Bring:
a potluck dish,
your creativity,
magazines with pictures that represent the lifestyle and writing success you would like to achieve.

Creative Circles are intimate feedback groups who will share their works on a regular basis at selected locations. These non-facilitated groups are member managed. Once formed, they are closed to new participants. When the maximum number drops, the members may elect to open the group to another new writer.
=====================================================
DETAILS: BROWN BAG SYMPOSIUM (Bring your lunch.)
=====================================================
Join other writers on May 15, 2004 from 10am until 3pm for Magazine Articles That Sell, Not Just Get Talked About. This hands-on writing workshop will give you the basics of selling an article from start to finish.

Topics to be covered:
1. forming the idea and what to do with it,
2. the difference between a subject and a topic,
3. the magazines
4. what is slant?
5. formulating an anecdote
6. write a lead (1 paragraph of no more than 25 words- soft and hard leads)
7. write a theme (1 paragraph of no more than
25 words)
8. write a body paragraph (1 paragraph of no more
than 25 words)
9. write an ending
10. write a query letter
11. rejections
12. rights

About the Instructor: Rita Robinson is a former health and psychology reporter, now full-time writer with more than 1,000 articles in magazines on four continents, and author of 11 books. She is a writing instructor for Writers Digest and teaches writing at the college level.

Other new writing events to be introduced in 2004 include: e-membership participation, writing workshops, brown bag symposiums with selected authors, and larger venues. Stay tuned!
=====================================================
=====================================================
3. Animals: The Tao of Meow
=====================================================
Lured to the home by the pleas of my biggest fan, a six-year-old child, I walked into the small cabin expecting an entertaining evening. A blur of black fur dashed toward my feet in a frantic attempt to bolt through the door. The effort was futile.

Scooping her up, I gazed into the amber eyes of my wriggling captive. This simple activity confirmed my suspicions. This hellion was simply outgoing and energetic. You probably have met the type; she dashes around non-stop and climbs everything. Nothing is sacred nor is anything safe.

This mountaineer, named Sarah, views curtains, wood door frames, pant legs or nylons the same—pathways to a summit. Her favorite conquest is currently the center of the screen door. Claw sized punctures have rendered the screen tattered and torn. Her favorite position seems to be mid-screen with her limbs sprawled--stretched to the limit of her reach. In addition, her leaps into the air, or in the pursuit of a toy, rival that of any acrobat.

Sarah is not naughty by nature. Her biggest problems are that she is highly intelligent, creative, and tenacious. My assessment: redirection of all that talent is crucial.

As the mother of my young human apprentice laments, I envision the picture she paints: Sarah the cat dashing quickly through the rooms during the am and pm. (Cats secretly designate those time periods as their official riot hours.) Sarah always eventually drops to recharge her batteries--so she can begin again.

******

On my next visit I meet Ranger, a recent addition to the household. Ranger received his name when he was rescued from the engine of a Ford Ranger truck. I smirk as I flash upon the dark mysterious character of the same name in the Stephanie Plum series (Janet Evanovich). This kitty is alluring, too. He is dark, handsome, fit, and very masculine in an unassuming way.

An introvert, Ranger stealthy navigates around the perimeter of his new dwelling; his movements cloaked by the strategic use of furniture and the adornments of the household. He shies away from any unknown humans and seldom gets into trouble. While Sarah is the yin, he truly is the yang.

Fortunately, like most animals, he could not resist me. Soon he was soliciting attention and it was time. So I called out to my six-year-old human apprentice. She would begin her schooling at the same time as her charges. What I take for granted had to be explained and illustrated through technique. She mimicked me as best as a child could.

The efforts were fruitful and the kitties came when called, stationed away from the door, and learned what “off” and “no” meant. Soon, they learned the benefits of making the right decision--and the consequences of ignoring the rules…the dreaded squirt bottle worked wonders.

On a recent visit both kitties were on their best behavior. The yin and yang were in balance and harmony. Although inquisitive, the creatures contained themselves so they were tolerable instead of incorrigible. They remain playful and although they continue to present some challenges at times, life has reached that balance of what I call, the tao of meow.

=====================================================

=====================================================
*********************************************************************************
Please feel free to FORWARD this newsletter to anyone you know who is always on the lookout for new books, speakers, and courses related to animals or writing.

Don’t forget to tell your friends about this newsletter and recommend that they sign up. To subscribe to this newsletter enroll at www.arkanimals.com or www.allianceofwriters.com.

PRIVACY STATEMENT: Subscriber information will not be distributed to anyone. Period.

Note the Unsubscribe option for this newsletter.

**************************
Thanks for joining me. If you have a topic you would like to see covered in this newsletter, please email your suggestion to: zooit@arkanimals.com. If you would like to advertise or sponsor an event, contact me below.
####################
ARK ANIMAL TRACKS
***************************
***************************
Copyright © 2004 by Diana L. Guerrero
PO Box 1989-215
40729 Village Drive Suite 8
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Email: zooit@arkanimals.com
www.arkanimals.com
www.allianceofwriters.com
www.dianalguerrero.com
(760) 875-6874 Office Line
(800) 818-7387 Events & Media
(800) 962-4544 Book Wholesale