REGINA'S UNIVERSE
"Where the universe of writing and reading comes alive!"
Editor: Regina Paul
May 2006
Issue#6
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CONTENTS
o  Editor's News
o  Article: Self Care and the Freelance Writer: 8 Steps to
Incorporate Self Nurturing into Your Writing Routine
o  Book Review: Awaken Me Darkly by Gena Showalter
o  Thank you to New Subscribers
o  Advertisements
o  Copyright Info
o  Your Subscription Info
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o  Editor's News
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Hi Everyone,

Whew! It's been a busy last couple of weeks. My laptop completely
crashed about three weeks ago and I began to wonder if I was ever
going to have a computer again. Going to the library and working for
an hour each day online and trying to get all my marketing and such
done was simply a nightmare. However, thanks to my husband Vince I
am now the proud owner of a Dell 5150 with all the bells and
whistles a girl could ask for! Oh, and I got it for about 50% of
what I'd have paid if I bought it directly from Dell. Ebay is the
way to go if you are looking for a new computer folks. I highly
recommend it. There is no way on our budget that I could have gotten
this great of a computer otherwise.

So that being said, there's quite a bit to report this issue. First
of all I now manage three blogs and they have all been updated. With
perseverance I intend to update them daily so I hope you'll check
them out for more writer's tips, and updates in general that may be
happening in between issues of this newsletter. The blog I most want
to tell you about though is Angel Whitedove's, as you might recall
she is the heroine of GETTING OUT ALIVE. Have you read GETTING OUT
ALIVE and want to know what's up with Angel and Darek between books?
Want more information on Angel's background or what she thinks about
what is going on at home while she's riding around the galaxy with
Darek? Or maybe you just want to know more before you purchase it?
Then this is the blog for you! Also keep in mind if money is a
factor for you, you can purchase GETTING OUT ALIVE the PDF version
directly from me for $4.00, that's a dollar savings over the PDF
version from my publisher.

You can also view my personal blog at my website here:
http://www.reginapaul.bravejournal.com/profile.php

And my Authors Den blog at my website there:
http://www.authorsden.com/reginapaul

I have a brand new Special that will be running from March 12, 2006-
June 12, 2006. When you purchase a copy of any of my works (GETTING
OUT ALIVE, THE MARK OF THE GUARDIAN, or DESTINY'S CHOICES) and
provide me with proof of purchase(a copy of your paypal receipt e-
mailed to me if you purchase either of the novellas or a screen
print copy to an e-mail if you purchase from my publisher) you will
receive one extra entry in my current contest. Yes, that means if
you bought all three, you'd get three extra entries, or if you
bought 2 copies of any one you'd get 2 extra entries. I'll be
telling you about the current contest next. See details at
http://www.reginapaul.bravehost.com/Specials.html

My current contest which is also running through June 12, 2006 is
for a Bijoux Terner necklace and earring set. It has silver knots
and gold diamonds with rhinestones in the center of the diamonds.
The set is really beautiful! All you have to do to enter is send me
an e-mail at tiwatz@yahoo.com
with the word "jewelry" in the subject line.

Oh, and before I forget, you can now reach my website at
www.reginapaul.com
I finally purchased a domain name to make it easier for everyone
including myself LOL to find it.

The release of THE KEEPERS OF ETERNITY has been moved down to Summer
of 2006 from Spring of 2006. What with my computer crashing and a
two state move, my writing schedule got moved up a bit. Just to whet
your whistle though, the first chapter is posted under my fiction
section on my website, I hope you'll check it out!

The final bit of news is that this newsletter is going monthly!
That's right, after this issue you will be receiving Regina's
Universe the first week of every month. There's simply been too many
things going on between issues that I want to share with you all,
and new articles I've written which I think will be helpful to
continue sending it out only bi-monthly. So, look for your next
issue the week of June 1, 2006.

Hope you are all having a wonderful Spring!

Regina Paul
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o  Self Care and the Freelance Writer: 8 Steps to Incorporate Self
Nurturing into Your   Writing Routine
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All of us have suffered from it at one time or another, the dreaded
word "burnout." We often think, "Oh, I'll just power through this."
Or "I've got a deadline to meet I can't possibly stop now, I won't
get this project done on time." I used to be one of these myself. We
often find that as burnout sneaks up on us, we become even more
frantic to meet the deadline, complete just one more chapter, or
write one more article. However, what we don't realize is we've been
going at breakneck speed for days, weeks, sometimes even months and
years. At no point have we given ourselves the opportunity to
breathe, relax, think about other things for a moment, or spend time
with our friends and family. This is a not a good thing, and it can
quickly lead to more serious health problems than burnout, such as
depression, anxiety, even panic attacks.

So, what can you do as a freelance writer to prevent or at the very
least minimize burnout, and other stress related health problems?
Here are some ideas:

1. Take short breaks of 15 minutes after every two or three hours of
writing.

2. Take an hour lunch break.

3. Decide ahead of time what is a reasonable amount of time to work
on your projects per day and stick to it. When you get to the time
that you've determined is the end of your day, then turn your
computer off, and clean up your desk just as if it were the end of
the day at a real job.

4. Have an exercise plan in place and make sure you stay with it. If
you don't already have one in place, begin one. Yoga is a wonderful
way to get exercise, tone your muscles and de-stress. I highly
recommend it.

5. Make a point of eating a healthy diet.

6. Make time for the things you enjoy both by yourself and with
others.

7. Learn to meditate and take short meditation breaks throughout
your day, or one longer one.

8. Take a walk, breathe fresh air, and take in the images of what is
around you. This is also a good way to get ideas for what to write
about.

Ultimately the idea is to make sure you make time to relax, unwind,
and de-stress. The benefits are many including ideas for what to
write about, increased well being, fewer illnesses, and a healthier
happier you.
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o  FEATURED BOOK REVIEW: Awaken Me Darkly by Gena Showalter
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Mia Snow lives in a world we can only imagine. Her world is the
future and it's peopled by not just humans but all types of aliens.
When the aliens arrived in Earth's past, humans set up a law
enforcement authority to keep them from harming humans called A.I.R.
Mia is part of this taskforce and an alien huntress. Unlike most law
enforcement authorities in the United States, she doesn't need
probable cause to arrest an alien or really even to kill one.
Brought up by an alien hating father, and having been a huntress for
a number of years, Mia thinks she knows the score. Currently head of
an investigation of several murders of human men, and on the trail
of a female Arcadian who she believes is the murderer, Mia is about
to have all she thinks she knows of the world turned upside down.

Kyrin En Arr is the brother of the Arcadian woman Mia is looking for
and he is drawn to  Mia from the very beginning. The attraction is
mutual, but Mia fights it not wanting to get involved with an alien.
It is only when her partner is fatally wounded and lays dying, and
Kyrin says he can help that she even considers trusting him. It
could cost her her badge, as well as her life if A.I.R. finds out
what she is considering, but loyal to a fault she makes a choice
there is no turning back from.

I adored this story! It was action personified, and the kick butt
heroine kept me rooting for her until the very end. If you like
books about strong women making it in a man's world, and or
futuristic stories with a powerful romance entwined throughout then
this is the book for you! Ms. Showalter sizzles in this first book
about Mia Snow alien huntress!

Do you have a review you'd like to submit for the next issue? Send
it to me at tiwatz@yahoo.com two weeks before the first week of
every other month to be included in the next issue.
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o  Thank you to Subscribers
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Thank you so much for subscribing to Regina's Universe! That means a
lot to me, and for those of you who signed up recently, I hope you
enjoyed your free e-books. Please feel free to pass this newsletter
along to anyone you feel might be interested. The only thing I ask
is that you pass it along in its entirety rather than just pieces of
it.
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o  Advertisement
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Ancient traditions, love, secrets, and betrayal-DESTINY'S CHOICES
DESTINY'S CHOICES by Regina Paul is a fast paced romantic suspense!
The author creates a tale of young love lost and found again,
traditions older than time, and the true test of keeping a family
secret at a high cost with great ease.

Secrets are something Tiana Slickpoo knows all about for she is the
holder of a great secret, one she is unable to share with any save a
few within her tribe. When sacred tribal objects, and artwork begin
disappearing from the tribal museum, and Tiana's gallery, she thinks
she knows what the thieves might be looking for. The "indian
grapevine" soon brings her word that James Waters is home and going
to be investigating the thefts. James is the one person in the
universe she does not want to see. Still bitter over their break up
six years before, she wants nothing to do with him. However, the
tribe, and the Spirits have other ideas.

See http://www.reginapaul.bravehost.com/Specials.html or
http://www.reginanpaul.bravehost.com/DC.html to find out how to get
your copy!
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o  Advertisement
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Forbidden love, danger, and an eons old conspiracy-GETTING OUT ALIVE

GETTING OUT ALIVE by Regina Paul is a fast paced, fly-by-the-seat-of-
your-pants science fiction romance. The author weaves a tale of
other worlds, theories about the alien abduction phenomena, the
consequences of bigotry, and the beauty of love that overcomes all
obstacles with great success.

Secrets...everyone has them, but Angel Whitedove alien abductee and
researcher is about to discover one she hadn't bargained for
involving her missing father, and the special work she does.

Darek of Laren has one mission: retrieve the outlaw Laaen and return
him to his home planet for trial. Only he doesn't find Laaen as
expected, but Laaen's daughter Angel, and an ancient evil the people
of Laren thought had long since gone extinct.

Forbidden love, danger, and an eons old conspiracy follow these two
as they race to save themselves, humanity, and their worlds!

http://www.lulu.com/reginapaul or to order! Or if you would like to
save money, go to http://www.reginapaul.bravehost.com/GOA.html and
purchase the e-book for  $4.00 directly from the author , that's
$1.00 off of the publisher's price!
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o  Advertisement
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Check out Karen's Korner a wonderful newsletter chock full of news
about her novels, and the writer's life by fellow author Karen
Magill! You can join by going to Karen's website
http://www.karenmagill.com and signing up to be on her mailing list.
It's that easy!
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o  Copyright Information
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Copyright 2006 by Regina Paul, All Rights Reserved.
Visit us online at:
http://www.reginapaul.bravehost.com/ReginasUniverse.html
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o  Subscription Info
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