TAKIN IT TO THE SEATS!

There are no less than three public reading sessions planned for those in the Puget Sound area.  I will be reading exclusively from my published works at the April 20th session.  The other two sessions will be a mix of my work and some other featured works on a similar theme, including selections from my upcoming A Trio of Cat Tales, and a story specifically written for the Proctor Art Gallery event, entitled "Walking to the Music".



Judy's Stories @ Lakewood

Saturday, April 20th at 3pm (60-90 minutes)
Lakewood Playhouse
5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd - Lakewood Towne Center

Judy's Stories - North Tacoma
Saturday, April 27th at 2pm (60-90 minutes)
Mason United Methodist Church
2710 North Madison Street in the Proctor District

Judy's Stories - @ Proctor Art Gallery
Sunday, May 5th at 1pm (60-90 minutes)
Proctor Art Gallery, LLC
3811 North 26th Street in the Proctor District

For my reading schedule in the virtual world, check out the Judy's Stories tab, or Click Here to check out the doings at the Seanchai Library in Second Life (c) and my virtual literary self, Caledonia Skytower.

Great Poster generously created by Gene Kester!

Coming in May ...

~ More Judy's Stories

~ The release of A Trio of Cat Tales, and A Trio of My Father's Tales.

~ On Sale now!  A Trio of Irish Tales, and Reflections from The Golden Wheel.

VIRAL SUNDAY!

If you'd mentioned a viral Sunday to me six months ago I would have thought you were talking about a weekend socked in with a bad cold.  But it was a very different kind of viral yesterday, and an exciting one!

I am sure for a more seasoned author it was not that big a deal, but it was huge for me and an amazing experience.  Reflections from The Golden Wheel did respectably well for a first time author on a three day promotion, bringing in just under 200 downloads and reaching the #66 in the Humor Rankings before it finished. Thanks to everyone who downloaded and who shared encouragement!

A Trio of Irish Tales started its three day promotion yesterday and WENT VIRAL in the afternoon.  At one point, and for several hours, it was being downloaded every 90 seconds!  Over 600 downloads on the first day and it has two more to go!  I'm not going to be smart or cool about it, whatever else happens THAT was cool! Literally, I was on a brief phone call with my sister and ten books uploaded while we were talking.

This morning A Trio of Irish Tales ranks #6 in Fiction-Mythology and #9 in Fiction-Historical at #345 overall in the Free Kindle Store.  LET THE PIGEONS LOOSE!

In celebration of our Viral Sunday here are audio samples from A Trio of Irish Tales

Click for a sample from In the Mists
Click for a sample from Shadow by the Gate 

If you LIKE it, RATE & REVIEW IT!  If you LOVE it, SHARE THE LOVE ~ TELL OTHERS!

THIS WEEK!

"JUDY'S STORIES" CHANGE OF SCHEDULE!

Some adjustments in this weekend's scheduled public readings ... check out the Takin' It To The Seats" Tab for the new schedule.

The session at King's Books as part of the Tacoma Swans Day Celebration is still a GO! Click Here to learn more!

SPECIAL PROMOTION OF REFLECTIONS FROM THE GOLDEN WHEEL STARTS FRIDAY!
In recognition of Sunday's Swans Day event and its efforts internationally to celebrate the creative spirit of Women and raise consciousness (and funds) to combat violence against Women, Reflections from The Golden Wheel will go on a special promotion.  For three days only, beginning Friday, the Kindle edition will be available to download for FREE!  Tell you friends and family -- share this special deal with any one and everyone you think might enjoy it!

HERE'S WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT A TRIO OF IRISH TALES...

"Judith Cullen's skills as a story teller and voice actress are obvious in these Irish tales. There is nothing as an engaging as a good story shared by a great story teller. If you have never had the opportunity to hear Cullen perform her work, I'm sorry. I imagine she will one day record these stories for you to hear in her own voice. In the meantime, I recommend reading them aloud to yourself and your friends. Seriously, these tales demand to be heard! Even read silently to oneself, these tales are engaging as well as touching. I love them!"  ~ Stephanie


"I imagined these tales being spoken aloud as I read them and how delightful it would be to hear the author's voice in the telling. I was pleasantly surprised at the mix of modern and ancient in the tales' settings and enjoyed how well the phrasing suited both eras. I am looking forward to future tales told by this author (and hoping for an audio book of the collections!)" ~ KFD

And from enthusiastic readers in the UK ...

"Three short stories, all based in an Ireland. that exists half in reality, half in myth: The clash between a sulky teenager, umbilically connected to his laptop, and an older kind of game-player; the beautiful sense of continuity in a family's connection with its place on the land, and a walk in the mist that nearly takes someone through the veil between realities that is still so present in Ireland, all evoke an Ireland that all with Celtic blood recognize and long for."  ~ CASB

"A wonderful trio of atmospheric tales from a writer who really is a great storyteller. It is a pleasure to read someone who truly understands the short story." ~ John

COMING IN MAY ...
~ A Trio of Cat Tales
~ A Trio of Tales Told by My Father

JUDY'S STORIES Tomorrow at 2pm!

 Tomorrow is the very first public reading for JUDY'S STORIES

Saturday, March 23rd at 2:00pm
Mason United Methodist Church - Parlors
2710 North Madison Street in Tacoma
(Note: Enter through the far right pair of front doors.  The entire bank of them will not be unlocked)

I will be reading from the recently released A Trio of Irish Tales, as well as from the about-to-be-released Reflections from The Golden Wheel. If you'd like a refreshing beverage to enhance your listening pleasure, please feel free to bring it along. No complications, video screens, bells, whistles, fly girls, marching bands.  Just good company and good tales: simply sitting back in your chair, letting your eyes shut if you wish, and letting the story carry you along.  This event is free to the public.

Great Article!  by Steve Dunkelberger in the TACOMA WEEKLY!

More events to come:  April 7th at 4pm at King's Books as part of the WomenArt Swan Day Celebration; April 7th at 7pm at Lakewood Playhouse; and April 27 at 2pm at Mason Church again.

And Good News!  A Trio of Irish Tales is now available on Amazon in paperback!  (Shipping might be cheaper through there than through CreatSpace, especially if you are an Amazon Prime Member!)

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!

"Judy Cullen has made Ireland more real and more mythical at the same time. Her stories stir the heart of the Ireland that lives in all of us. It seems that humanity changes and stays the same much as the stories of the green hills change, but remain a part of our forever."
 ~ Reader Review from Amazon.com

  I've been doing a great deal of promotion of my new Short Story Collection A Trio of Irish Tales in the past week or so (and there I did again!).  Today's post is a bit different.

In celebration, I am posting recordings of six classic poems (all in the public domain) by Irish poets.  You are welcome to listen, or download them as they are accessibly posted.  I am a "struggling Artist" looking for sustainable work.  Please download a file or two if you enjoy them. I have provided the opportunity for you to show your appreciation if you have the means and desire to do so. I invite you to consider leaving me a Tip in the Stories for Life Tip Widget in the right hand margin.  Help me keep the stories and poems coming, accessibly, for all to enjoy.

I am of Ireland by William Butler Yeats (1839-1922)
The Minstrel Boy by Thomas Moore (1779-1852)
The Ragged Wood by William Butler Yeats (1839-1922)
The Stolen Child  by William Butler Yeats (1839-1922)
Stanzas to Erin by J.J. Callanan (1759-1829)
Into the Twilight  by William Butler Yeats (1839-1922)

~ Slainte'