Elevation by Sheilah Vance

Better than a new tube of lipstick™

Better than a new tube of lipstick™

Last night, Jim Cramer, on his Mad Money show on CNBC, interviewed the CEO of the Tupperware Company.  Cramer said that Tupperware was a good stock to buy.  (See the video at  http://www.cnbc.com/id/28884909.)   The CEO said that was because in this tough economy, people were staying home and cooking more, so they needed storage containers, like Tupperware, for their leftover food.  And, he said that another significant portion of the company was concentrated on selling beauty products.  The CEO said that in this economy, if women didn't have alot of money to spend on luxuries, at least they were going to spend a little bit of money on beauty products because they still wanted to look good.

That echos an old saying that women will buy a tube of lipstick if they want to feel better and don't have a lot of money to spend.  Yes, that's true.  I've done it myself.  But, we've adopted a new trademark at The Elevator Group that a book from The Elevator Group is "better than a new tube of lipstick™."  If you only have $15 or $20 to spend and want to feel better, why not spend it on a book that will entertain you, lift your spirits and show you characters with spirit who never give up, like in Chasing the 400; or a book in the "therapeutic fiction" genre that will show you how a woman rebuilt her life after great loss and having the rug pulled out from under her, like in Land Mines; or a book that will help you meet your weight loss challenges without having to spend hundreds of dollars, like A Christian Woman's Journal to Weight Loss?

A book lasts longer than a tube of lipstick and, in some cases, is less expensive.  So, if you want to lift your spirits and don't have a lot of money to spend, try a book from The Elevator Group...it's better than a new tube of lipstick™.  Check them all out at www.TheElevatorGroup.com.

Peace--SV

New President, New Day, New Spirit, New Books

 

All things new are sweeping our country. 

I just returned from the Inaugural Ceremonies and Celebration for our new President, Barack Obama.  Standing in the midst of 1.5 million people on the National Mall, I felt even more strongly than I did at the Democratic National Convention and on election night in November that I was witnessing and was a part of a new day and a new spirit in this country and in the world.  Yes we can, yes we did, and yes we will.  President Obama has showed us all that anything is possible when you first believe in yourself and pursue your purpose and your passion without fear and with determination.  He didn't let people stop him when they said, "It can't be done."  He set his course, developed a plan, assembled his team, and worked diligently towards his goal, step-by-step, putting one foot in front of the other.  No excuses.  He had a dream, and he made it come true.

President Obama inspires me.  As an author and independent publisher, I, too had a dream.  I dreamed that there were millions of people who would want to read the type of books that I wrote and published as part of The Elevator Group, where our trademark is Helping People Rise Above.  So, I have set my course, developed a plan, assembled a team, and am working diligently towards my goal, step-by-step, one foot in front of the other.  No excuses.

Three years ago, I published my first novel, Chasing the 400, which went on to be honored as the first selection of the African American Museum of Philadelphia Book Club.

I'm proud to officially launch this month my second novel, Land Mines, whcih you can read about right here and at my website, www.TheElevatorGroup.com.  I've also launched this month the first book under our new Elevator Group Faith imprint.  That book is A Christian Woman's Journal to Weight Loss by Patricia Thomas.  You can read more about that right here and at www.TheElevatorGroup.com or www.TEGFaith.com. 

I hope that you will read more about both of those books and become one of the millions of readers that I know we'll have.  Dreams do come true.  Thank you President Obama.  (Witness this photo that I took at the inauguration at the Biden Home States Pennsylvania and Delaware Ball.  I'll be posting more great pictures and my full inaugural blog in a few days.)

Free Financial Help in Tough Economic Times

Only until 11:59 tonight, Oprah's website has a free download of Suze Orman's new book, Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan:  Keeping Your Money Safe and Sound.

I flipped through it at a bookstore a few days ago, and it is current and has some interesting and valuable information in this uncertain economic time we live in.

It is also mentioned in this week's Publisher's Weekly, which is the publishing industry's trade magazine.  I was floored when I saw that her publisher was printing 950,000 copies, which is huge for a first printing, and that Orman will be doing lots of national media on this, but not touring. 

I can only dream of printing 950,000 copies of my new book, Land Mines (read about it at www.TheElevatorGroup.com and order at any bookstores or on-line bookseller), so I do, and I believe that dreams do come true!

Anyway, click on the link below and get your free book.  It's 227 pages.

http://www.oprah.com/article/money/personalfinance/pkgyourmoney/20081119_tows_bookdownload

Peace--

Sheilah

A New Milestone for Americans

NBC Nightly News reported today that America has reached a new milestone.  For the first time, more Americans are obese than overweight.  The report stated that 34% of Americans in 2006 were obese as measured by body fat index, and 32.7% were overweight.  34% of youth were obese, too.  When asked by Brian Williams what the implications were for these statistics, Dr. Nancy Snyderman said, "We're in trouble, Brian."  She said that the top risks of being overweight or obese were heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.  You can see a video of the clip at www.msnbc.nbc.com. 

I make this post just to say that just about everyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows how hard it is.  We all saw recently in the news that Oprah, who has the best doctors, trainers, and chefs at her disposal, even knows that it is not just about exercise and diet, although those things are critically important.  With all of the resources that Oprah has, she has acknowledged that something else is going on that causes her to overeat and gain weight, besides her thyroid.
I'm biased, but I think with good reason.  The new book from the first new author that I signed to The Elevator Group, specifically the new Elevator Group Faith imprint, is a wonderfully helpful and comforting aid to Christian women who are trying to lose weight.  The book, A Christian Woman's Journal to Weight Loss, is now available at all bookstores and on-line booksellers. 

A Christian Woman's Journal to Weight Loss addresses the spirit and mind issues challenges that women face in trying to lose weight, using the Word of God as a guide.  It is truly a beautiful and informative read.  There are 52 scriptures that the author relied on to help her with her weight loss challenges, the author's reflections on those scriptures, and a journaling prompt to help the reader focus those scriptures on her weight loss challenges, and a blank page that the reader can use to write her reflections on the scripture.  See www.TheElevatorGroup.com and www.TEGFaith.com for more information about the book.  I think so many of you would find it helpful.  I know I did, and I'm glad to publish it.--Peace.--Sheilah Vance

Why Read Books? Here's Why:

There was a great editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer today.  It is titled, "Reasons to read:  Feed your mind and spirit with a good book", by Andrea K. Hammer, founder and director of Artsphoria:  Celebrating Arts Euphoria (www.artsphoria.com).  She wrote about how great it is to hold an actual book in your hand, rather than read one on Kindle, despite its benefits.  There is a wonderful section of the article about her mother's approach to reading books.   Andrea wrote that "...my mother expressed a love affair with words.  'Humorous ones offer relief, taking you away from your own life and stresses.  Reading about others puts things in perspective and gives you courage to face your problems and the hope that you can solve them.  Others' stories make tackling challenges possible while taking away the fear of the unknown,' she said."

As I am deep in the middle of writing promotional materials for my new novel, Land Mines, available now, but "officially" released at the end of January, I have been writing about the many reasons why my novel should appeal to readers.  It was great to read Andrea's article about her mother's feelings about why books appeal to readers because I couldn't have said it better.

Read more about my  novel at www.TheElevatorGroup.com.

See Andrea's full article here http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/37400804.html.