Sometimes as my mind drifts out of control, I feel the abyss calling to me. The abyss where I may shut down and disappear from the world I know. The allure of the abyss is peace from the equations filling my mind, too many additions, and too little subtractions. Financially like many just hanging on by a frayed thread swaying with too much weight on in a stiff wind.

I know it is my own standards of justice that have brought me to this point; to drive to pay my debts when my creditors require the monetary amount. For just like me my creditors are dependent upon my payments and others- like a paycheck- so that they may pay their employees and bills.

All I can do for now is keep trying and believing that like many things in life this too shall pass, leaving a memory etched in my mind. Others have gone through this before me and still are, WE WILL SURVIVE! To survive may encompass going to the food shelf that many of us often donated to but never patronized or possibly a soup kitchen.  Learning skills that normally many of us would pay someone to do for us and use the skills we have, while digging deep inside ourselves, pushing our own limits, to survive.

There is no such thing as failure. Even if one loses their house. For what matters is the fact we tried. Tried to work and figure out a way to pay the bills, tried as many resources as we can mentally handle, and did the BEST we can do under the circumstances. Many of us often forget the true worth of a person is not measured in monetary value but how we live our lives and the people around us. Failure only comes from not trying or caring. 

In these tough times, we still need to take care of ourselves, physically and mentally.  For my frame of mind, I still go out every few weeks and indulge in my favorite $3.50 coffee. I sip it slowly to savor the flavor. As each sip tantalizes my taste buds, I think positive thoughts of a time when I was not laid off and could pay my bills (though still living paycheck to paycheck). In time, like each passing birthday, this too shall pass to be a distant memory. Therefore, I grin and recall all the things I have to be grateful for in this difficult time.

For everyone struggling I send my warmest wishes and the hopes that we will make the most out of the life we have instead of focusing on the negative. Remembering the term, PMA (Positive mental attitude) a coin phrase used in many work places melded with the will to succeed. In addition, YES….WE WILL SUCCEED!

Forever yours,

eNKay

WOW!!! wanted to share all of this with you... here is the display in Borders in Newport News, VA of MOON STRUCK!!! 

The display is right by the doors and believe it or not on the other side is... you guess it! Harry Potter:)  Whew!!!!!! I am so excited!  Can't wait for the book signing here to meet everyone!

For those of you who would like to buy a copy before than that live in this area- go right ahead..you may still come to the book signing and bring the book.  I would love to meet you all and sign it if you'd like:) Thanks!!!!!  eNKay

Notice the name change on the flyer for me:) Hummm... yep eNKay stands for my initials of NancyKay...

Anyways for those of you on the east coast don't forget about the book signing at Borders in the Patrick Henry Mall- Newport News, VA @ 1:00

I will be reading an excerpt from Moon Struck, signing books and of course talking and answering questions to anyone who has them. Through the course of this I am hoping those two years of taking mass com classes 20 years ago paid off.LOL That way I won't get nervous and stutter when I read:)

Actually form reading to four children over the course of 17 years I have gotten quite good at reading out loud..I even do theatrics...

Sorry I have not written for a bit. Just starting to feel better:) I want to thank all of you for the warm wishes...

Things are now starting to get CRAZIER!!!! I can't say for now what but by next week I might be able to leak to you what I am thrilling to tell you!  Whew...let's just say never in even my wildest dreams. LOL And here I dream about dragons! 

I have been working off and on with the sequel to Moon Struck... as each scene plays through my head they swirl around and eventually POOF! I have another chapter:)  It always amazes me when I write when the unexpected happens to one of my characters-LOL  Its like I am a bystander in my own story:)

I hope everyone is well! I'll be back on regulary soon!  

For those of you in the VA who love romance novels check out Paper Back Diva's- Andrea Jackson (my friend and wonderful romance author) book signing at:

June 2, 2007 2-4

Greenbriar Mall, Waldenbooks

LOL..been fighting an infection- so have been quiet lately. However I would like to wish my first grade teacher

Mrs TaBell(e) a happy birthday:) I never have forgotten her..nor she I... though in first grade we ummm didn't understand each other at first. I think she thought I was ummm difficult-LOL But from trial and error we reached and understanding of each other:) She is and was then a GREAT teacher...a GREAT roll model... and most of all a GREAT person:)

To her I send my warmest wishes and a thank you- for she was the one who taught me how to read and write...

Love,

eNKay

Moon Struck for sale at....

Moon Struck by eNKay D Durand is now available at Book Corner in Woodbury, MN

as well as by Tues(May 15) or Thurs(May 17),

Should be available at Northern Lights Books in Duluth, MN

If you purchase books in advance you may still come to the signings that are scheduled and I would be thrilled to sign them for you...

Thanks!

eNKay

PS While your there check out the new Moon Struck posters that are going to be for sale through Terra Press Books:)

For those of you who might be interested in purchasing T-Shirts simuliar to the posters -you may email me directly at here or admin@bananatreeatplay.com

Hi,

So far there have been many changes on my web site. I have been revamping many pages. As well as posting up and coming changes, additions, and events.

Thanks

N

http://www.bananatreeatplay.com/MoonStruck/MainAuthorsPage.html

This is soooo cool you all need to check it out...I was even surprised- LOL

http://www.lulu.com/content/816279

If you click on my name it will also pull up both editions..a hard cover and paperback edition. f your lucky enough to get a first edition it contains the original errors...while the second edition the errors have been correct.  Novels like Harry Potter, Narnia, ect which have contained these usual first time errors are collectors editions:)  Only time will tell just how far Moon Struck will travel.  In the novel they travel to the ice cold artic...Canada... and many othr places mentioned in the novel.

Thanks

Forever yours eNKay   

Moon Struck Book Signing Woodbury,MN. Information

Here's the information for the book signing at the Book Corner

On June 16th from 1:00 pm -3:00 pm

"The profession of book-writing makes horse racing seem like a solid, stable business."
John Steinbeck

For all of you who live by Woodbury,MN I would love to meet and chat with you. So stop in to The Book Corner on June 16th :)

Book Corner
783 Radio Drive, Suite 115
Woodbury, MN 55125

I will be there doing book signings- what else- along with some other wonderful authors...

So what's the most important thing about a book signing? Is that people show up for it besides the authors:)    

the woman who put this event together has done a GREAT job in making sure this event is the best it can be! Fun too:)  

When I have a set time I'll post it...

Thanks:)

eNKay

JUST A THOUGHT

Humans in this world form one of the largest packs not truly controlled by an individual….think of humans in the simile as the ants of the world with the exception we have the ability and emotions to ponder our own destinies.

In the human world, we too have governments with usually a ruling head to ascertain the rules that all in the individual groups follow.  However, do we all follow these rules like in the ant kingdom?   As humans, we are unpredictable creatures of our own habits as well as our own thoughts to what is best for the individual.  Not always taking into the consideration as to what is best for the group. In each group, we have subgroups and so forth forming a complexity of structural bonds. 

Whereas the ant world has subgroups as well but works to one goal…the survival of the entire colony.

As humans evolved were we always like this or did we become like this as emotions rather than logic became our prime essence of life?  Yes emotions…for I have found no matter how much logic we sputter the true driving force is our emotional essence within.  Whether its pride we feel of success or the disappointment of what we feel to be failure…all we do…all we see though we may claim logistics—is filled with emotions whether we admit them or not.

What's the point to this?  Ants are the one who are truly logical in their endeavors…

WOW! After much writers block I have the FULL story idea, characters...and heehee many twists, turns and surprises!  I am so excited:)  Back to work.....The new novel is due out in Jan 2008....

The book Moon Struck is taking off:) Whew....

I have been working on the second novel, fighting writers block and drinking lots of coffee. LOL

As for book signings..those of you who would like to purchase a novel with a signed copy here's my tentative schedule so far:

May? (This is tentative)

I'll be at Borders Book Store

Located in the Patrick Henry Mall

Newport News, VA

June 16

I'll be at Book Corner
783 Radio Drive, Suite 115
Woodbury, MN 55125

June 23 or 24 (tentative)

I'll be at Embers/ Bridgemans Restaurant

Located in the Mariner Mall

Superior, WI

August ??

I'll be at Waldens Books

Located In the Miller Hill Mall

Duluth, MN.

August 24 or 25 (tentative)

I'll be at The DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

Located on Barkers Island at the Whaleback ship

In Superior, WI

I will update this as the signings get confirmed for the tentative ones....

Please while I'm at these signings if you happen to be in the area just stop by and say hello:)

Thanks, see you there,

eNKay

Many of you do not know that my mothers father was an immigrant from Norway that came to North America as well as her maternal grandmother and grandfather.

My mom still talks about how they would speak in Norwegian to her while having my mother speak English. So did she learn Norwegian? No but she does speak English fluently and understand some Norwegian.

She still has ties in Norway and is sending my novel abroad to our cousins. For the family of 'the ones' is based on my own family and relatives in Norway. It was my way of paying respect to the long trek over the ocean, assimilation into a new country and separation from family they all endured.

My hopes are they find pleasure in knowing that family ties may cross oceans and countries. That my cousins in Norway whom many of them I have never met were not forgotten about. My hopes is one day meeting them and hearing their side of the story while they waited to hear from their loved ones in North America.

My blessed life:) Being a stay at home mom for 18 years.

Taking care of 4 children through good times and difficult times.

Telling them stories and making up funny songs to entertain them as well as myself.

Hoping all the while to find a job that not only let me spend time with my children but that I loved as well.

Through all my dreams, through all my hopes I would honestly say a miracle occurred.

Last summer I sat down and wrote a novel- that I felt driven to write Moon Struck which while I worked it was called Reality, realms and the chaos of a dragon slayer..whew..say that five times fast.LOL

I found a wonderful editor- Regina Brown - who helped mold my ideas, my voice into a reality.

My children where there every step of the way.

Than Terra Press Publishing...wow!!! They agreed to publish my novel and went above and beyond any of my wildest dreams to guide me, to make my novel all it could be:)

I am so blessed.

Than in March my novel came out and has been selling at a steady rate. Moon Struck is sold nation wide as well as over seas.

For a stay at home mom who's life revolved continuously around her kids this is like WOW!!!!!!

The feedback on Moon Struck has been very positive and many are all ready asking when the second novel to the sequel is coming out:)

I have had friends along the way for support and whom are happy for me.

WOW!!! I am so blessed...

Thank you to all who have and who will buy Moon Struck. As well to those who helped along the way and are still there:)

I am so blessed.

But thank you especially to my children who due to my weird hours, my pacing the deck to think and my insistence of asking them to reread Moon Struck chapters over and over-LOL- to get feed back... My children who hugged me and told me they were proud of me- THANK YOU:) For I am proud of you as well for you my children were my inspiration.