Recent College Shooting A Tragedy!

I was so saddened to hear and read about the recent shooting at Northern Illionis University. My heartfelt condolences go out to the victims and their families...

And this is why I say that now, not tomorrow, is the time mental illness gets talked about, and discussed, on college campuses all over the world to prevent another one of these tragic shootings!

If a person had a noticably visibile illness such as a physical one, it would be talked about and discussed by the medical profession and general public, so why not an invisibile one that is a chemical imbalance in the sufferer's brain???

A great place to go for more information about mental illness is the NAMI.org web site!

NAMI provides wonderful and knowledegable information on, and about, mental illnesses and their symptoms, and much more! NAMI is also a place a person can go to for help & resources if they suspect they're suffering with a mental illness or they've already been diagnosed with a mental illness.

NAMI also has knowledegable guest bloggers who are sometimes celebrities that suffer with mental illness (one recent guest blogger was the actress Patty Duke, and it was very interesting what she wrote on NAMI's blog)!

For those interested in more knowledge and info on mental illnesses, NAMI's link is: http://www.nami.org/. Oh my, I forgot to tell you what NAMI's initials stand for...they stand for National Alliance for the Mentally Ill [NAMI]. And yes, I'm also an advocate for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill along with all my other advocacy work I quietly do.

Knowledge and information has the power to prevent another tragedy like the Northern Illinois University killings! So why not go to NAMI's web site today, and see it for yourself.

Rosanne Catalano
Publisher / Editor / Author
The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine TM
Now On Sale: Mirrored Images by Rosanne Catalano
http://www.rosannecatalano.net/

Tragic and Sad that Heath Ledger Died So Young

Although I only saw Heath Ledger's movie Brokeback Mountain, I was truly saddened to read about this young actor's death on January 22nd of this year. 28 years old is way too young to die!

From what I saw of his acting in the movie Brokeback Mountain, Heath truly had a great talent to become the character he was portraying. I'm only sorry that his recent role of "The Joker" in the upcoming Batman movie drained and exhausted him to the point he could not sleep. However, it is understandable.

Playing the role of a psychopathic, murderous and evil person with no empathy whatsoever had to have been very hard to do when you're a lovingly kind person like Heath! But I'm sure he was able to portray the role as well as he did that of a gay cowboy. Though I have to admit, I can't wait to see the new Batman movie this coming July 18th! I'm sure Heath's last acting job will not disappoint his many fans.

Now my condolences go out to Heath Ledger's entire family...
For Heath was a loving son, brother and father (to Matilda) first and foremost which defined the human being he was more so than his work ever could. A loving and kind human being like Heath Ledger will never be forgotten.

Rest In Peace Heath.

A fan,
Rosanne Catalano
Publisher / Editor / Author
The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine TM
Now On Sale: Mirrored Images by Rosanne Catalano
http://www.rosannecatalano.net/

Happy New Year Everyone!

WELCOME TO 2008!
I pray you had a happy Holiday season, and that your New Year brings peace, happiness, love, good health and lots of prosperity! Now I have to vent about something...

What I'm going to say may sound ungrateful to some but not all; some would understand. Although I thank God that my husband and I were able to spend time with our families during Christmas and New Year's, I was very hurt that not one member of my family gave me gifts that had to do with my interests -- reading, writing and publishing. The Christmas presents I did receive had to do with music or clothes.

Now you're probably saying, "At least you got gifts! There are children and people in this world who did not get anything, or who didn't even have a holiday to speak of..." I do realize, and know very well, that there are people less fortunate than I.

But I am only human so I was extremely hurt that my Christmas gifts were meant more for someone else rather than me. Especially that all year long I was telling my husband (and my mom) exactly what I wanted. So please remember that when buying presents for someone other than yourself, we must think of what the gift-recipient would like or love rather than what we ourselves would like.

The one great thing about Christmas this year that I do not have to vent about is that my hubby and I were sooo happy to be with our loved one's! It is always special when we see our families, and we cherish the times spent with them.

However, what should we do if we have received Christmas presents from loved ones and friends that we either did not like or had nothing to do what we love? I finally decided what the most practical solution to this dilemna is --
Go out and purchase gifts for ourselves that's what we do!

Or, if you're like some I've been reading about on eBay, we can sell them to someone else. Personally, though, I think it is truly tacky to sell Christmas presents given to us on eBay. A better solution is to either buy ourselves what we really wanted or re-wrap those gifts and give them to someone you know will love them as much as you hated them. If you have a different solution to this problem, I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for listening to my vent...

Oh my, I forgot to tell you that as soon as I realized I can always go out and buy myself what I truly wanted, I wasn't as hurt anymore. However, I do still wish that my loved one's had remembered my interests and purchased Christmas gifts accordingly. Maybe next year they will? That would be nice. But I sure am not waiting until next Christmas to get what I want :)

Sorry I have to get back to work now...besides working on my January 10th magazine issue just now, I'm also in the middle of writing more in my third book. For the first time ever I made a New Year's Resolution for 2008. And that is to finally finish my fiction novel and get it published and and in your hands this year! So stay tuned for further developments with my upcoming book...

Again, Happy New Year! I pray that it is a great year for you.

Rosanne Catalano
Publisher / Editor / Author
The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine TM
Now On Sale: Mirrored Images by Rosanne Catalano
www.rosannecatalano.net

Mystery at Shatick Estate by Rosanne Catalano Published on Storytime Tapestry!

Hi Dear Readers,
now that October 2007 has come & gone, my author interview is no longer being featured on Tannia Ortiz-Lopes' "Time With Tannia" web site.

But it can now be read on my web site at http://www.rosannecatalano.net/!
To read the interview Tannia did with me, go to the right-hand side of my web site's Home page, where you will then see the green text "Author Interview with Rosanne Catalano." Just click on that link, and it should come out in a PDF formatted document. But you must have the Adobe Acrobat 'Reader' version in order to read my interview.

I have other good news since telling you of my interview with Tannia...
A mystery story I wrote titled "Mystery at Shatick Estate," which was submitted for publisher Carol Roach's Halloween Contest, is published in "Storytime Tapestry's" November 3rd, 2007 edition! Yay!

"Mystery at Shatick Estate" can now be read in Storytime Tapestry's Archives at http://archives.zinester.com/98907. However, the winners of "Storytime Tapestry's" Halloween Contest will be announced by Carol Roach soon. Afterward, the writers who won and their winning poems & stories will be published in my December 10th, 2007 magazine.

I'm very excited about my upcoming December 10th magazine issue!
The reason is that I changed the background color to match the Christmas and Holiday spirit, and it is my magazine's Three-Year-Anniversary Edition! Yes, I have been publishing "The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine," a progressive Internet-based magazine, for 3 YEARS so far! And I plan to continue publishing my magazine for many years to come :) But the Anniversary & Christmas Edition is coming out sooo great, I can't wait for my subscribers to read the December 10th, 2007 magazine!

I am also busily working on finishing up my third book!
This time my book is a fiction novel rather than a collection of my poems, non-fiction and fiction stories. I don't know when it will be ready for publication. But I'm praying for it to be published before the end of next year. If only I had more time in a day to do all I need and want to do! Especially since writing a fiction story takes more of my imagination and concentration than writing non-fiction stories do.

Sorry, have to go now. Before I sign off though, I want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!


Rosanne Catalano, (aka R.C.Kayla)
Publisher / Editor / Author
The Cat’s Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine TM
CHECK OUT ROSANNE'S LATEST BOOK, MIRRORED IMAGES,
AT http://www.rosannecatalano.net/ or at Lulu Press!

Excerpt from "Mirrored Images" by Rosanne Catalano

Hello dear readers,

Below I am bringing you an excerpt of my book "Mirrored Images" for your reading pleasure...

Mirrored Images

A Book of Short Stories and Poetry

BY ROSANNE CATALANO

(aka R.C.Kayla)

Copyright 2007 by Rosanne Catalano

All Rights Reserved.

DEDICATED TO MY LATE DAD AND MY MOM

On October 13, 2005 I got the worst news any child can get...my dad passed away after a month and a half in the hospital fighting asbestos lung cancer.

I had been at his hospital bedside practically all day and night that month and a half. But this story and the way my father was treated in that hospital is another story for another time.

Today I would like to tell you why I'm starting off with a poem I wrote in dedication to my dad. Although he was a child-like father to my brother, sister and I, I will always love him unconditionally and truly wanted him to stay here on earth. But our Creator said it was time for my dad to join his brothers and sisters who went before. I am consoled by the fact he is no longer in any pain or discomfort due to the many health crises he suffered over the years after his first heart attack at the age of 52. He lived to the ripe old age of 81 years and, in spite of his poor health, lived a good life and always encouraged my love of writing. And, although my mom is still alive (thank you God!) she too encouraged my passion for writing. So, it is to both my late daddy and my mom that I dedicate my second book...

DEAR DAD
(c.) June 2006 Rosanne Catalano

On Father's Day I want to tell you
How much you mean to me
When you took me by the hand,
Oh how I loved you so
A little girl I was...

You took me in your arms
For the first dance with your daughter
And even though you directed me
A young woman I was...

I took you in my arms
Told you I loved you
Not knowing it would be the last time
You heard those words
An adult woman I am...

Though I always told you I love you,
I may not have told you of all the wonderful memories
Of growing up with you as my dad
Memories that continue to flood my mind
I remember the fun things you did
with your children --
my brother, sister and I.

The rollercoaster ride in your little Corvair
that made all three of us scream with delight
while going up and down those hills you drove upon
Telling us kids not to be afraid that you were, after all, a bus driver
and the safest driver around ... what fun that day turned out to be!
Now just memories of the little boy you never got to be
in that orphanage you grew into manhood in,
but were for us three.

I still miss thee and wish our Father above
hadn't called you home with
your brothers and sisters who went before.
I love you forever and ever more
and my heart is still breaking so...
and that is why I dedicate this book to you
Happy First Father's Day in heaven, Dad.


SPLIT MOMENT IN TIME
(c.) 2006 Rosanne Catalano

As she held tight to the steering wheel, the rays of the sun glinted off the windshield but she did not care; she continued to stare at the road ahead. She drove out of her hometown; not noticing the beauty all around. Her thoughts were on what had just happened at her job...



NOTE: There are a lot more (nonfiction and fiction) stories and another poem in my book "Mirrored Images". However, you may want to purchase the book at Lulu Press or on my web site's Home Page to read the rest of my fiction short stories, nonfiction story articles and poem in dedication to my late beloved grandmother.

Also stay tuned for my first fiction novel which I am currently working on. I'm excited about my forthcoming fiction novel! It will be a fictionalized, and a "what if her life had turned out differently?", account of the life of a homeless woman I once knew. My upcoming fiction novel will have my story characters encountering murder, a robbery, a strange looking dog who befriends them, and many other bad things happening to them before they open up a pet store and become a success story beyond their wildest dreams.

Please do stay tuned for "Mirrored Images [2]" or "Split Moment"... sorry readers, I have not finalized my decision on the title of my first fiction novel (my upcoming third book). So it is a toss-up between these two titles. But do enjoy reading my second book "Mirrored Images"; now on sale at my web site's Home Page and at Lulu Press' web site!

I must also tell you that on my author interview at Time With Tannia's web site, Tannia Ortiz-Lopes has an old description of my book "Mirrored Images". And therefore the amount of pages listed in my book's description is incorrect. Instead of 55 pages, "Mirrored Images" now has 71 pages as of August 2007. However, this is my fault for not realizing Tannia still had the original description of my book. If I had realized this, I would have definitely given Tannia Ortiz-Lopes the updated information. Sorry about that readers! But I do hope you enjoy reading "Mirrored Images" despite this error on my part...

God bless,
Rosanne Catalano, (aka R.C.Kayla)
Publisher / Editor / Author
The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine, an Internet-based magazine
Now On Sale: Mirrored Images (2007), a Book of stories and poetry
http://www.rosannecatalano.net/

Sometimes It Doesn't Pay...

There is a topic I've been wanting to write about for a while. It concerns contacting old friends; should we or should we not? I personally do not think it's a good idea.

I will tell you why I say this...

In my case contacting a person whom I thought was once a good friend did not pay off. The reason? I thought it would be a conversation of congratulations for finally becoming a published author, publisher & editor of my own magazine, etc. Being that she knew how passionate I've always been about writing & publishing. However, I found out instead that she was never a friend to begin with. No congratulations came on the other end of that receiver from this person.

I also realized this most especially after I cried like a baby about my dad and stepdad dying. And her reply to me was, "my father died three years ago." Hey it happens sometimes. But I'm writing this to warn you and other's not to go down memory lane if you can help it... the past is better left there.

I felt like a total fool after getting off the phone with that person. Why a fool?
Because I was crying my eyes out with someone who didn't care that my father and stepfather had passed away. And never even cared about me and what was happening in my life. So I told her a lie about my husband... I lead her to believe I wasn't happy with him when that's the furthest thing from the truth; I am very happy with my husband and love him with all my heart and soul. I never felt this way about any man in my past; being in love is scary but also exciting all at the same time. My hubby of 10 years is The Love of My Life and always will be. It's just a shame that I didn't meet him sooner; I would not have wasted 12 years with another man (the ex-husband).

Another thing I didn't go into detail with this person about is my heartbreak over not being able to have children. The reason I did not is because this so-called old friend says to me, "oh you were always into cats anyway..." Heeelllllooo! I love animals yes, but I also love children and wanted my own to love, nurture and protect. Her remark to me about my fur-babies made me keep my mouth shut about my miscarriages.

So, my bad experience in talking with a person I thought was an "old, and good, friend" is why I say the past is better left there. And why I say it is not a good idea to contact so-called old friends!

DON'T FORGET to read my second author interview coming up in October! Again, I will be the "Featured Author" on Tannia Ortiz-Lopes' Time With Tannia website from October 1st - 31st, 2007.

I do know that all 1,048 subscribers of my magazine will definitely be reading my interview. Will you? The link to Tannia Ortiz-Lopes' "Time With Tannia" website is: http://timewithtannia.tripod.com/

Hope to see you there too!

Rosanne Catalano, (aka R.C.Kayla)
Publisher / Editor / Author
The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine, an
internet-based magazine
Now On Sale: Mirrored Images (2007); http://www.rosannecatalano.net/

Author Interview With Little 'Ole Me, Wow!

Hi dear readers,
Wow, Ms. Tannia Ortiz-Lopes is interviewing me! My author-interview is scheduled for next month and I'm ecstatic so I'd like to tell you all about my interview!

From October 1st - 31st, 2007, I will be the "Featured Author" on her Time With Tannia's website. Ms. Tannia Ortiz-Lopes, a published author herself, has on her website a section called "Featured Author" in which she highlights the achievements and accomplishments of different published authors every month. Tannia's website url, where my interview can be read the entire month of October, is: http://timewithtannia.tripod.com.

Let me tell you how my author-interview came about...
Tannia had read an author-interview that another publisher, Carol Roach, had done with me for the internet-based ezine Carol herself publishes daily called "Storytime Tapestry". And Tannia felt my interview with Carol was so interesting that she wrote to me, requesting she interview me for her own Time With Tannia website.

In the interview Tannia asks me questions about myself, my writing, my internet-based magazine "The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine", and my latest book Mirrored Images. As I said already, Mirrored Images is selling pretty well but could be selling better... I just don't have the time to advertise, market and promote my book as much as I should be doing. But from now on, I will try to make the time to do so.

I am very honored to be Tannia Ortiz-Lopes' "Featured Author" from October 1st - 31st, 2007! Tannia herself is a very talented writer and published author who resides in Germany with her husband and children. And I thank her for finding my life very interesting and wanting to interview me!

Come and check my interview out at Time With Tannia's website from October 1st to the 31st of 2007! I promise you won't be bored with the interview Tannia did of me. Hope to see you all there!

Rosanne Catalano
Publisher / Editor / Author
The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine
Author: Mirrored Images (2007)
www.rosannecatalano.net