White Envelopes

It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification,
no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so.
It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the
commercial aspects of it, overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle
Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma, the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of
anything else.
Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached
for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son, Kevin, who was 12
that year was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended, and shortly before Christmas, there was
a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church.
These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them
together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in the spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new
wrestling shoes. As the match began I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without
headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team
obviously could not afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of
their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride
that couldn't acknowledge defeat. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish one of them could
have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them."
Mike loved kids, all kids, and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse.
That's when the idea of his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought
an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On
Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this
was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years.
For each Christmas, I followed the tradition, one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters
to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground
the week before Christmas, and on and on. The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was
always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand
with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the
children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story
doesn't end there.
You see we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped
in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the
morning, it was joined by three more.
Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The
tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree
with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope. Mike's spirit, like the
Christmas spirit, will always be with us.
Author Unknown

Out of the Box Thinking

Here I am spending hours on the computer every day trying to brand my name into everyone's household to get attention for my book. It is being considered by Bantam right now and I am waiting as patiently as humanly possible for an answer. In the meantime, I have gotten a website, blog, Facebook, Myspace and Twitter page. I have uploaded a book trailer that has received over 14,000 views so far and I am uploading that trailer to every author friendly website I can.

I cannot send the book out for reviews while it is under consideration of a publisher. I cannot post any piece for an excerpt or teaser for the same reason. I cannot host a contest to give away my book(for obvious reasons) and it isn't time for radio interviews or tv appearances.

What ideas can anyone come up with that are out of the box but will not cause Bantam to reject my book? I need creative, fresh ideas that will help brand me.


Citizen Out

Tennessee Missing Teen!!

Everyone needs to look at this girl's face and watch for her. Her family is devastated by her disappearence. People we all need to hope, pray, cross your fingers (whatever it is that you do) that this ends well. I cannot imagine the pain her family is going through while they wait for any news.



http://www.newschannel5.com/story/13641631/robertson-co-sheriff-searching-for-missing-16-year-old-girl



Citizen Out

Hale & Salvatore Supernatural Must Reads Supernatural Sundays

Hello Everyone,

I thought you would love to know about this really cool thing Akasha Hale is doing on her blog. Every Sunday is Supernatural Sunday where you get to post and tout your favorite character from your favorite supernatural book. All the details are here at her site. I am about to post mine and will be excited to see all of your favorites there too.

http://halesalvatoresupernaturalmustreads.blogspot.com/



Citizen Out

Read My Book Summary

A man patiently watches a group of young girls walk home from school, waiting for the perfect moment to take the one child he has designated as his next victim. Once in his clutches, she will endure acts of violence and horror that such a young girl should never have to experience. However, what this predator does not know is that he, too, is being stalked. There is someone in the shadows—a trained Citizen—who is ready to make sure that the child under his assigned protection is never harmed. One pedophile, one abuser, one killer at a time . . . this Citizen and others like him will take a stand against those who prey on the weak and the innocent.


Citizen Out

The internet is an amazing place!

I woke up this morning and decided to google my name along with the name of my book and I was amazed at how many times I was mentioned in the first 5 pages. So then I decided to type my name into Yahoo and Bing and the same thing happened. I even had my trailer on worldnews.com at the bottom of their page. I believe they are out of Britain, how the heck did that happen? My trailer has been viewed on Youtube over 8,000 times and I have a serious online presence but this blog is the hardest thing to get off the ground, Go Figure, Right?

I found out this week that a production company in New Mexico is going to shoot a scene out of my book and test the reaction of studios of turning my book into a Tv Series or Movie. I am beside myself in excitement.

Also 90 days has come and gone since Bantam Dell Publishing has had my book and I just hope that since I haven't received a rejection that it's a good sign they will make an offer. What a Christmas present that would be!!

Citizen Out

AMBER ALERT FOR 3 LITTLE BOYS!

Attention Everyone,

There are three little boys missing. They are brothers ages 9, 7 and 5. Go to this link and look at their pictures. Please contact authorities if you have any information about them.

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/police-search-for-missing-michigan-brothers-andrew-alexander-and-tanner-skelton/19735431




Citizen Out

Sex Offender tries to hire hit on his Victim

Have you guys seen this? A man who happens to be a Catholic priest raped a minor not once but several times and when this child's family brought a lawsuit against the man he went and tried to have the kid killed. This is apaulling in the fact that it was not enough for him to kill the innocence in this child but he wanted to rob him of his very life as well. I am angered at this and all of you should be as well.

This story should not reflect anything about religion, it should spotlight the epidemic that is plaguing our country. This is a disease that seeks out and destroys our children. We need to stand up and scream in unison for a change in how our pedophiles are dealt with in our legal system. We need to show the children that we know their worth and nothing else is more important than preserving their innocence and life. What does it say about us as a society when we let these people continue to prey on those that cannot defend themselves and we just keep letting them reoffend. People, we are offering up our children as an endless smorgasbord.

WE THE PEOPLE are capable of bringing major change as long as we stand together. If we are going to stand for something, shouldn't it be our CHILDREN?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/23/john-fiala-texas-priest-hitman-charge_n_787877.html


Citizen Out

New Found Information

I had posted about a website that was getting votes by the public on whether to abort or keep their baby. Carson however, has brought to my attention a website that has done some supposed research and believes this to be a hoax. It is still unsure of what is truly going on here but I have to say that I feel a little relief to hear that this may be a hoax. Here is the link for everyone to figure out for themselves.

http://www.ministryoftruth.me.uk/2010/11/18/birth-or-not-busted-site-linked-to-climate-change-denier-site/


Citizen Out

Have you seen this?

I have never seen anything like this in my life. I have seen a lot of people post stuff on the internet for attention but this takes my breath away. A couple who is married and has tried two pregnancies that had miscarried are now puting it to public vote on whether they should abort or keep their baby.Please take a look at this link and I am really wanting to hear your comments and opinions!

http://www.birthornot.com/


Citizen Out

Highlight Our Heroes

I think it is important for us all to shed light on the everyday people that put themselves out there to save the lives of children. Whether they have reported a case of child abuse or fostered a child that has been removed from an abusive home. No matter how big or small it may seem we need to shed light on the people who step forward and come to the rescue of those that can't do it for themselves.

Please send me the name and story of anyone you know of that deserves to be highlighted. It can even be a story of someone you read about and they touched your heart.


I look forward to reading your submissions!
Citizen Out

Woman to be Recognized

All of us have heard the tragic news of Zahra Baker and one woman decided to open a facebook page titled The Zahra Project. Here she brought thousands of people across several countries together to vent, cry, share, and plan. Vent their anger, cry over the precious life lost, share stories and pictures of the beautiful little girl and most of all, plan to stop this from happening to other children. Here there have been pages and pages of discussion on how we can stand together and fight child abuse.

Kristie Austin Pope is taking this tragedy and turning it into a movement to get a bill passed to address the many cracks our children seem to fall through. She is needing all hands on deck people, so get this message out to everyone you know. If you want to stand for something, stand for our children!


Citizen Out

Here's my question?

Everyone is talking about these new security proceedures at the airports. The scan machines have images of your body that even the news has to blur the private parts before they can put them on the screen. If they are that descriptive in their image and it is being used on children, how is it not child pornography? There is also the concern that the scanners emit radiation and yes in small doses but there are people who fly several times a week. How much radiation causes cancer and is TSA going to cover the treatment, since it was so necessary for security?

As for the pat downs. We tell our children repeatedly that no one is to touch them in their privates except the doctor. Now, we have to modify that to include the people in uniforms at the airport? How is this not child molestation?

How long is it going to be when just to go into a restaurant we have to let the host or hostess run their hands between our legs and over the breast for us just to eat out, all in the name of security?
I can just hear the host now, "Ma'am, the special tonight is flounder, and might I say you FEEL exceptionally nice tonight."

Citizen Out

My book will be dedicated to the memory of Zahra Baker

I started this book over a year ago and have worked tirelessly on this. I finished the trailer just as the news of Zahra's disappearance was all over the television. Her precious face refreshed my reasons I began this project and it has renewed my frustration that we continue to battle this war that has been waged against our children. I pray that everyone who feels the same as I on this matter will band together to help put an end to these atrocities. We need to push for stiffer penalties when someone takes one of our angels. What is the answer? Death Sentence for someone on the first offense? Three strikes, you're out? All I know is that it is we the people who make the difference and from what I can see there are plenty good people out there that want our children protected, so why is it that so many monsters are able to do this over and over again?

Citizen Out

My Name was Zahra Baker

My Name was Zahra Baker

I was challenged with many obstacles in my short life on Earth.

I was without my hearing and relied on my other senses which may have caused others to falter, but my Spirit grew stronger.

When my small body was attacked by disease, my Spirit grew stronger.

I had to say good-bye to my leg and learn to adapt, which made my Spirit grow stronger.

I had to leave my beloved Country and move to another that was strange and unknown, my Spirit grew stronger.

One day my life was stolen from me by the hands of another but my spirit grew Stronger to the point where it left my body and soared right into the arms of my Heavenly Father.

My Spirit grew so strong that it continues to shine for everyone I left behind. I am so much more than anyone knew.

I was known as Zahra Baker but I am truly an Angel.


Citizen Out

To All Book Clubs!

I am looking for book clubs that will get your members to view my book trailer that is on my website and post your comments. In exchange I will come do a book signing and reading at your meet when my book hits the shelves. In your comments put the name of your book club. I very much appreciate your support. Thank you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27gHjRFPjmI


www.mariecrist.com

Citizen Out

Amazon pulled the Pedophile Handbook

Good Job everyone for voicing your outrage against Amazon for carrying this book. This shows the power of each of us standing together to make a difference.


Citizen Out

Chuck Thinks Right: Boycott Amazon

Chuck Thinks Right: Boycott Amazon

Citizen Out

STAND AGAINST PEDOPHILES

This post is for all the people out there opposed to the selling of  The Pedophiles Guide To Love and Pleasure  on Amazon. I am calling for all people to stand together and voice your outrage. We need to use our free speech and stand against such a horrid thing as a handbook for the predators that prey on our most precious and innocent members of society. We have been too lax for too long and this is what it has led to. I am making a call for all Angels to step forward and become stronger Guardians for our most precious resource, OUR CHILDREN!!

NEW TRAILER IS BEING UPLOADED

Hello,
We have uploaded the new revised trailer to Youtube and the website. It should show up soon. As for right now everyone can watch it on my website.

Citizen Out Book Trailer - Marie Crist

View the new Citizen Out book trailer.