"MY HEART AND SOUL"
BY MARILYN RANDALL
Published: September 3rd 2009 by Lulu.com (first published 2009)
Details: Paperback, 146 pages
isbn: 0557087570 (isbn13: 9780557087570)
DESCRIPTION (from author )
From life's varied experiences, these words are an expression of my beliefs, deep feelings and emotions and a documentation of surviving sexual abuse, alcoholism, loosing a spouse to cancer, then learning through faith to trust and love completely at a more mature time in my life and finally finding that perfect soul mate.
ABOUT MARILYN RANDALL
Marilyn has always had an artistic ability, which she has used both professionally and personally over her lifetime. She was an art major in high school receiving a Penny Arts Scholarship award for her first oil painting and a Hallmark Honorable Mention award for her second oil painting which was exhibited in an art show in Portland, Oregon. She began her professional career as a graphic artist in 1976 when she was hired by Gandee Printing, a printing company in Medford, Oregon. She learned her craft quickly and thoroughly and within two years she became the Graphic Art Director and then the Graphic Production director for Moore Publications in Belleview, Washington after spending a year as a graphic artist for Seattle Menu Specialists in Seattle, Washington. During her time as graphic production Director, she was assigned major accounts and spent time traveling to different parts of the country to co-ordinate large art projects for wholesale clients. Later she moved to North Idaho where she again became the Art Director for a printing company in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Upon moving back to the Seattle area in 1985, she continued to work for printing companies as both art director and graphic production director until in 1990 when she opened her own graphic design business called Personal Touch Designs by Marilyn. Her business consisted of designing silkscreen art for ladies sweatshirts and other garments and free lance business logo design. She designed the “I’m Proud To Be An American” shirt that was purchased by NAS Whidbey, the Navel Air Station on Whidbey Island, during Operation Desert Storm. In 1993 she retired from her business and her professional career and started writing and illustrating for her own pleasure. Her first published book was titled “Feelings” and it was published in the early 1990’s, but it was a limited edition printing and because it was well received, it inspired her to pursue her dream of writing and illustrating her children’s books. Four of the children’s books were written and illustrated in 1995, yet they are being published for the first time today. Her newest books, “My Heart and Soul” and “Elmer The Christmas Elf” are a continuation of her earlier endeavors.
Her writings reflect her life story as she uses her craft to express her thoughts and feelings about not only her life events, but also about social issues in today’s world. She is a recovering alcoholic with 19+ years of sobriety, which she attributes completely to the success and many achievements she has accomplished. Her life struggles range from sexual abuse issues beginning in her childhood to the devastating loss of family members and eventually the loss of her spouse who succumbed to cancer after a long, seven year battle with that dreaded disease, which took it’s toll on her life and health as well. Remaining steadfastly faithful and God inspired has been the key to carry her through some very difficult life experiences. She maintains a positive attitude today with an open and loving heart and when life becomes difficult as it sometimes does, she continues to stay upbeat and positive, always expressing her message of hope and steadfastness and never giving up.
Her children’s books especially reflect a strong morale attitude with positive answers to today’s life situations, which are faced daily by today’s youth. Teaching children about faith and learning to cope with troubles in a positive and healthy way are inspirations she hopes to help instill in our families struggling with today’s issues. Her stories are about coping with fear, greed, vanity and patience, always with a positive outcome to the story and in ways that children can understand and put to use with their own situations. The poetry format of all her children’s stories retains the charm and rhythms which children love to both read for themselves or hear read to them. These delightful stories have been well received by those who have read them, while they and others anxiously await the publication of her newest story, written and illustrated this year. All are charming in their own right and will delight any child as well as some adults.
MY THOUGHTS
This book is written well and has many, many poems that are about Marilyn Randall's personal experiences in life. I feel that there is probably something in this book for everyone. All of the poems are very good. There are a few of them that I just didn't really understand but I am sure others will relate to them and understand them fine. I read this book a little bit at a time while relaxing with my morning coffee. It is a relaxing read and something that can be read over and over and you won't get tired of it. I think that each time a read a poem and many I have read several times I find something I just didn't see the first time that I read the poem. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes poetry and also to anyone who is just needing a little bit of a spiritual boost from life difficulties. There is a little bit of everthing in this book and I think that it is great that she has used this to help her recover from so many difficult times in her life.
I would like to thank the author Marilyn Randall and Dorothy Thompson from Pump Up Your Book Promotion for giving me this opportunity to read and review this book.
I was provided this book from the author Marilyn Randall and Dorothy Thompson from Pump Up Your Book Promotion. This review is of my own honest opinion on the book that I have recieved from the author free of charge to do this review and that in no way influences the way I do my reviews. I am under no obligation to give a positive or negative review. All reviews are of my own thoughts and should not influence a non-purchase on any item soley based on my reviews as these are only my own opinions.
