HELLO EVERYBODY! WELCOME TO “#ROCKIN’ 2020 AWAY” BOOK, BLOG & TRAILER BLOCK PARTY ON MY OFFICIAL WEBSITE: OUR LADY OF VICTORY REMEMBERED!
The Story Is As Relevant Today As It Was Yesterday
Here are my prize giveaways for 3 lucky winners!
(1) $5 Amazon Gift Card
(1) Ebook Copy of “Our Lady of Victory” Second Edition
(1) Autographed paperback copy – “Our Lady of Victory” Second Edition
INTRODUCING
OUR LADY OF VICTORY, THE SAGA OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
Second Edition
Today is the official launch of the Second Edition of Our Lady of Victory, the Saga of an African-American Catholic Community. As you can see there is a new book cover. I figured since I had to make extensive changes to the interior, that I might as well throw in the kind of cover I always wanted. The paperback version does the cover more justice. The interior needed to be revamped after discovering to my horror that some content had been altered. There was a reduction of photographs this time around, and format changes were made.
You are probably wondering, “How could this have happened?” Well let me tell you. As you know, we are independent authors and because of that, anything can and does happen. I made a move from my original publisher, iUniverse, over to Createspace (an Amazon affiliation) and in the process, files were turned over and altered without my knowledge. In 2014, I did a Facebook Re-launch promotion created by Rave Reviews Book Club. It took six years from that day for me to discover the extent of the damage. I paid iUniverse to prepare the files for acceptance by Createspace’s team. When I complained about the bad formatting, Createspace told me that the file size was sent over with incorrect dimensions. Why didn’t they tell me while it was happening? So the blame lies with both.
I know and feel that the book world does not have a lot of respect for Indie Authors, just from my own personal experience. But they better believe that we are a force to be reckoned with and and I believe that RRBC played a huge role in that evolution of thinking. But we still have to be careful and remain vigilant.
Although changes were made, the story remains basically the same with a few added updates. It was and is an evolving story because the church is still functioning. The membership has dropped dramatically because of the raging Pandemic that has swept the globe. Members are dying due to aging and not being replaced in significant enough numbers. I went to church for the first time in months and got attention just for being there. I couldn’t have hidden if I wanted to. Its kind of hilarious but also shows that I was missed. I suppose I can take a little comfort in that knowledge.
Paperback Book Cover (front & back)
Feel free to view Our Lady of Victory book trailer on the side bar of this post.
On another note, I saw on the news that for Halloween (October 30 & 31) my beloved train station, The Michigan Central Depot in Detroit, will be featuring a display of lights and you just have to drive by or park in order to see it. This is wonderful. This station had been vacant and deteriorating for many years and this is the first spark that it is coming back to life. The Ford family purchased the building so there is plenty of money to support it. I am extremely grateful.
Here is my contribution to saving the station, right down to resurrecting the Friends of the Michigan Central Depot. We renamed the group, “The New Friends of the Michigan Central Depot.” I wrote how we did it in a booklet called, “A Citizens Group in Action, Saving a Train Station.” There was a slide presentation of the event held at the Detroit Yacht Club at beautiful Belle Isle Park in a replica of a train station, courtesy of the City of Detroit, who were only too happy to do it. And they provided consultation and some technical expertise.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN RRBC!
***
Feel free to connect with me via…
Email: sharrislaughter@gmail.com
Website: https://rememberourladyofvictory.com/
Blog: https://shirleyslaughter.com/
At the end of the tour, there will also be GRAND PRIZES awarded! So do stick around.
*1st/Grand Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card
*2nd/Grand Prize: 3-day Blog Tour sponsored by 4WillsPublishing
*3rd/Grand Prize: Book Bundle {10 books of your choice from the Kathryn C. Treat Book Giveaway Treasure Chest}
*4th/Grand Prize: A *LIVE* interview on an upcoming segment of a RAVE WAVES “EYES ON THE BOOK” or a BOOK OF THE MONTH slot.
Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of this post. Good luck on winning my giveaways! I’ll see you at the next stop of this awesome BLOCK PARTY!
Our Lady of Victory Remembered! 
Congrats on your second edition, Shirley. I love the new cover. Great to hear about the station too.
Happy Halloween:)
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Hi Denise. Yes, that cover has a story of its own. And being a fan of local history, I had to throw in an update on our train station. That’s the community activist side of me.
I’m glad you stopped by.
Thank you.
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How wonderful that there’s new life in the train station, and a new edition of your book! Few people pour their hearts into preserving local history, and you’ve done that with your book and your involvement in the station. This is great, Shirley!
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These are the two things I love. Thanks Patty.
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Shirley, I really do love your new cover! Good for you! I hope your day on tour is simply fabulous! See you later at the LET’S TALK ABOUT IT Show, 6:30 PM CT! https://ravereviewsbookclub.wordpress.com/rrbc-rrbcletstalkaboutit/
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Nonnie, I will set a reminder to be at the show tonight. I’m glad you like the cover.
Thanks for your support.
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Shirley, love the new cover – rev. 1 of your book is still queued on my Kindle TBR. Thank you, too, for the train station info. It’s less than an hour’s drive for us but we’ll try to get there on Friday to see what all the hubbub is about. I did go inside the station about 15 years ago and couldn’t believe the devastation. If I remember correctly, the entire basement was flooded at the time. I’m hoping to see you all at the show tonight.
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Hi pdogg. When you go by the station please let me know how it goes. And take pictures if you can. I’m not going to be out that late.
I’m not sure you can get an update on your kindle version because the changes were so extensive; but give it a try. Sometimes it will indicate that you can update in your “content and devices” Amazon section.
Thanks John for your support.
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As you know, I have purchased a copy of Missing in Action. Now I see you have a new edition of a book I was not familiar with. If the trailer and the cover are any indication, I would appreciate Our Lady of Victory, edition 2.
I can tell you are an activist and fight against injustice. Although you went through a battle and prevailed, you can rejoice that your church is now recognized as Presentation-Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church.
Write on, Shirley!
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Marian, I really appreciate hearing your thoughts. Yes, I am an activist, although I have slowed down these last several years. Thanks to RRBC there is a platform for me to continue the conversation.
I hope you enjoy the reads while becoming educated at the same time.
Thanks so much just for being here.
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Our small neighborhood of 68 houses had a big fight with Walmart years ago about encroaching on our community and devastating woodlands and wildlife. They won in the end but we fought tenaciously and got 13 concessions, including over 3 acres of land preserved. I HATE when big business runs roughshod over what they regard as “little” people.
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I love the cover, Shirley! I’m so happy that you are ready for the second release! I really enjoyed the book, so I hope others pick it up. 🙂
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Yvette I am happy that you like the new cover. This was my vision with the first publication but I was having such a difficult time with the publisher that it was put aside.
I also envision a documentary complete with re-enactments. There is a song that children are singing when the cameras roll down West Eight Mile Road following the child (me) inside the church. It was a beautiful song and I will never forget it. It made such an impression on me.
Anyway I won’t get carried away. Thanks so much Yvette for being here.
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I hope your vision comes to fruition. 🙂
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Wow! That new cover rocks!!! I learnt early on as an Indie author, that overall Quality Control is my responsibility & to check everything thoroughly (don’t be in a rush to publish!). After all, no one cares as much as you do about your project.
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Good point Wendy. It’s all part of the learning process.
Glad you like the cover and thanks for stopping by.
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Congratulations on the second edition, Shirley. Updating a book can be nerve-racking, but it can assuredly pay off. Best of luck to you with it. Nice cover, too!
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Hi Flossie. Yes everything about publishing is nerve racking.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Congratulations on your new edition. I like your idea of a re-launch. My writing improved with each book I released, so I decided to rewrite my first book. I’m happy I did. I’m sorry you had problems with your publisher. I had issues with Outskirts Press. After my first book, I published with CreateSpace. We live and learn. I believe we’re never too old to learn from our mistakes. Good luck with your book!
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Yes Susanne. I don’t think we will ever escape problems as Indie Authors. You’d have to be an expert at publishing in order to deal with what is out there. Thank goodness, we have each other.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Hi Shirley, Congrats on the relaunch. The cover is beautiful. So glad you are part of RRBC. I love the post.
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Hi Roxy. I’m glad to see you here. I had a young man years ago, do a mockup for the cover after I expressed to him what I wanted. I had a referral of Susan Hughes do a cover using the mockup and here we are. Rachel Ritchey does formatting and book covers and at a price you can afford. She did the cover for Ronald L. Powell, Missing in Action. I love her work.
Thanks Roxy for your support. I think this is the last stop.
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Hi Shirley,
I love your book trailers, especially the one on the church, Our Lady Of Victory. It goes under my skin. I am so glad that you didn’t give up or give in. Somebody has to step out. That’s what I say and then I tell myself that somebody is got to be me. I like your courage and determination. It is through struggle and striving that we achieve our purpose.
Congratulations also on your new release.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem
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Patriciagarcia, I really appreciate your words of encouragement. It was motivation to speak my truth that gave me the courage. I was on a mission to save our history after seeing the proof of its destruction.
Thank you so much for adding to this conversation.
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Thank you. It a pleasure to support a person who is on a journey and recognizes that they are here for a purpose. Shalom aleichem
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Reblogged this on Book Reviews by Pat Garcia and commented:
Hello Everyone,
Our Lady of Victory is a book about one woman’s fight to keep her church open. It is a true story, and I have been privileged to meet the author. If you need some encouragement, then read Our Lady Of Victory.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat Garcia
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Hi, Shirley! Congrats on the release of the 2nd edition of OLV! Wow! That’s a great accomplishment and I LOVE the new book cover. I look forward to reading this integral part of history. Have a great day!
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Hi Shirley, better late than never! Best of luck with your new release.
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Sorry, late to the party Shirley. Hope you had a great day. Love the new cover by the way, and best of luck with the second edition of your book.
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Welcome Robert. Better late than never. You just missed getting the prize. LOL
I’m glad you like the cover. So do I!
Thanks for stopping by.
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I am also late to the party, Shirley! I reviewed your first edition. I should probably review the second edition as well. Love the new cover and trailer. Your observations are especially keen, especially during these times. I had thought that the work so many of us did during the 1960s and the Civil Rights Movement had had more of an effect on civil rights, but it seems to me that the past four years have seen a backslide in so many ways. Let’s keep on moving forward! Never turning back, Shirley! Keep writing. We can’t give up!
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Yes Wanda. I have grown weary just thinking about the setbacks in civil rights. This time the root to the causes will have to be addressed and some form of reparations. I’m sorry, but that is what its going to take to catch up to the wealth gap. At least all of it is being talked about now which is a first.
Thanks Wanda for stopping by and joining the conversation.
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