Florida Beach and A Call For Submissions

We spent about 8 1/2 hours in the car yesterday driving from Alabama to Florida. It was long but uneventful. Not really a great deal of interest to see along the highways, other than a few flowering trees which always looks good to Northeners who travel to Florida in the winter months.

Our friends had remodeled their condo and have done a terrific job. It's lovely! They are on the 4th floor and have a screened-in lanai, or porch to many of us, that has a beautiful view of the beach and water. I saw many footprints in the sand this morning as I sat out there drinking my coffee. Also a few boats and many birds swooping down to catch their breakfast. Sunny and warm. The cold northern days seem so far behind, and yet, they are only a few days behind us.

I may not be posting every day as the wi-fi in our friends' building is not working and I'm writing now at the local library. Not sure how soon I can return here. So, this may be it for this week, or possibly can post again on Friday.

I wanted to let you know about a new call for submissions from Chicken Soup that I received the other day. I am copying it in full below. Remember to check the website for specific guidelines.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miraculous Messages from Heaven
101 Stories of Eternal Love, Powerful Connections,
and Divine Signs from Beyond
After the success of our book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Messages from Heaven, we are ready to make another book about your amazing connections with loved ones who have left this world, and the miraculous signs and messages they send from beyond. Although death takes away their physical presence, the connection doesn't die and we often sense our loved ones after they have gone

We want to hear from you if you have experienced the other side or received a sign or signal from a loved one who has passed. Has someone who has died come to you in a dream? Given you counsel or comfort? Have you gone beyond, but returned to life with new knowledge, insight, or awareness? Have you intuitively known the moment someone died? Share your true, touching, and astounding stories about love that doesn't die, messages from heaven, or your own experiences with dying and coming back.

This book is for everyone who has a story, whether religious or secular. Please note that since we see many stories about messages from heaven in the form of rainbows, bird, butterflies, and coins, we will only be able to use a few stories on those types of messages from beyond.

Here are some possible story topics, but we know you can think of more:

• Words of wisdom from a loved one who has passed
• Personal exchanges with a loved one who has passed
• Signs from beyond from a loved one
• Receiving guidance or lessons from a loved one who has passed
• Omens or visions from beyond
• Revelations from beyond
• Apparitions from beyond
• Knowing the exact moment someone passed

Please remember, we do not like "as told to" stories. Please write in the first person about yourself or someone close to you. If you ghostwrite a story for someone else we will list their name as the author. If a story was previously published, we will probably not use it unless it ran in a small circulation venue. Let us know where the story was previously published in the "Comments" section of the submission form. If the story was published in a past Chicken Soup for the Soul book, please do not submit it.

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the right to resell it.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoup.comSelect the Submit Your Story link on the left tool bar and follow the directions.

The deadline for story and poem submissions is March 31, 2013