THE IMPORTANCE OF UNSELFISHLY SERVING OTHERS & EBOOK SALE!!!!

I wrote two novels about service to others from different perspectives. Service is so meaningful to me it's a theme I incorporate into my novels. My third novel (in editing stage) will continue this principle.

I volunteer for two organizations and donate to Disabled American Veterans and Golden Retriever Rescue. To be able to help those in need, humans and animals, is a blessing. By serving others, we are serving ourselves. Whether it be through volunteering, teaching, or donating money to worthy causes we believe in, it's all good.

"GOOD FORTUNE" is a novel about secretly helping others without expecting thanks. Tong, a wise, aged Chinese scholar helps anyone in need when they cross his path, and guides them on a personal journey toward happiness and success. This is a lesson instilled in him by his Grandfather when Tong was a lad.

Page 86 Grandfather instructs young Tong: "At least once in his lifetime, a man of conscience finds himself in the position of being a teacher to one in need of guidance. When faced with this duty, he is obliged to respond. Always remember, you are intimately connected from the moment you realize you have met one who is in need of a teacher and it is you who holds the knowledge they seek."

Tong devotes his life to doing good deeds. As an old man, when Tong overhears a stranger, Michael Hamilton, who has come to Good Fortune restaurant despondent over losing his job. Michael sits at a table outside Tong's office. Hidden from view, Tong listens to Michael's tale of woe and writes a guiding fortune that get switched into a fortune cookie. This is the beginning of the clandestine relationship with Tong as guide, and Michael his unknowing pupil. 

"VANILLA GRASS features John Carrows, a Vietnam Vet with PTSD who becomes a hero to the town's at-risk youth by teaching them perspective, responsibility, and important life lessons. In doing this, John begins the process of emotional healing and is able to rejoin society. He eventually meets a strong, independent woman named Colleen, and falls in love. The catalyst to all these changes in John's life is twofold.

First, John finds an abused one-eyed Golden Retriever puppy abandoned by his cabin, and saves her life. He recognizes Sage is another wounded soul. They each need each other and an immediate bond is formed.

Pgs 92-93, Outside he saw a bundle of red fur curled up beside his house. “What do we have here?” He squatted down and the bundle of fur sprouted four kicking legs. John estimated the female Golden Retriever puppy was nine months old and weighed only twenty-five pounds. She growled when he touched her and he quickly withdrew his hand. Shaking his head with disgust, he got up and walked down the path to the highway where he saw fresh skid marks and tire tracks in the dirt and assumed they were from the vehicle that dumped her. “Damn people,” he muttered, “dumping a puppy like she’s garbage . . . What should I call you? You’re still a pup, but you’ve been through so much already you’re wise beyond your age. Poor baby, abused and starving. Somehow you pulled through and survived despite everything. You kind of remind me of myself." 

Second, when three teenage boys attempt to rob John at gunpoint, he is forced out of hiding. Without planning to rejoin society, the years of self imposed isolation are over.

Pg 46, John took another step closer and Brent panicked. He reached behind, pulled his gun from his waist and pointed it at John. With one swift movement, John knocked the gun from Brent’s hand, got him in a headlock and held the wrist dagger aimed at his throat. Evan was so anxious he tossed his gun on the ground while his bladder released. John took another step closer and Brent panicked. He reached behind, pulled his gun from his waist and pointed it at John. With one swift movement, John knocked the gun from Brent’s hand, got him in a headlock and held the wrist dagger aimed at his throat. Evan was so anxious he tossed his gun on the ground while his bladder released.

“Don’t you boys know better than to pull a gun on a psycho like me?” John shouted. He kicked Evan’s gun aside with his boot and gave Brent’s neck a painful squeeze.

Pg 50, John took a breath and steeled himself before he walked into the police station with a small duffel bag. He removed his dark glasses and approached the front desk. “Can I speak to the deputy on duty?”

Pg 51“Have a seat.” The sheriff indicated an empty chair and went around his desk. He deposited his hefty frame into his chair and leaned back, placed a boot on top of the desk and crossed his ankles. He folded his hands behind his neck and grinned. “You surprised the hell out of me and not too many people can say that.” 

“I’ve been surprising myself lately.”

“So tell me, John, what brought you into town?”

“These.” John lifted the duffel bag and handed it across the desk to the sheriff. “There are two loaded guns inside. I took them away from a couple of punk kids.”

Both E-books are on sale this month for $2.99. Visit Amazon to read free samples and if you like what you read, please purchase and download! Thank you.

Leslie Bratspis, Author

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Fortune-Leslie-Bratspis-ebook/dp/B0055AU4EC/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=41up9F0wLwL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=1EW8C8JZ4VQGAK480REW

http://www.amazon.com/VANILLA-GRASS-redemption-Leslie-Bratspis-ebook/dp/B00PVFS15K/ref=tmm_kin_title_sr?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1454638955&sr=1-1

Visit my website: www.lesliebratspis.com

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BARNES AND NOBLE "VANILLA GRASS" EVENT! COME LEARN ABOUT GOLDEN RETRIEVER SAGE

This just in! August 15th from 1-3 p.m. I'll be at the Barnes and Noble book store in Silverdale, WA located at 10315 Silverdale Way NW. If you're in the area please stop by. Free bookmarks for all, and autographed books for sale.

"VANILLA GRASS" is the story of John Carrows, a Vietnam Vet with PTSD who rescues an abused Golden Retriever puppy that changes his life. John names her Sage because she's so young and yet, so wise for her age. Sage is blind in one eye, but that doesn't damper her spirit. She and John need each other and together, they begin the healing process. Finally, after living in isolation, John is no longer alone.

Sage was a dog I rescued some years ago that sadly, passed away in 2006. Resurrecting Sage in this book was comforting because as I wrote about her, I felt as if she were with me again.

You're probably wondering what does vanilla grass have to do with a Vietnam vet and a golden retriever? And what is vanilla grass, anyway? Vanilla grass, commonly called sweet grass, was and is widely used by north Native Americans. The Indians of the Great Plains believe it was the first plant to cover Mother Earth. Vanilla grass is one of the "four sacred medicines." The other three being cedar, sage, and tobacco. It's sweet smelling and has the lovely aroma of vanilla, chamomile and apples. Leaves are dried and made into braids and burned as vanilla-scented incense. It's used in healing rituals, woven into baskets, and braided into jewelry.

Throughout my novel, its fragrance and a certain bracelet are used to represent courage, love, healing, and promise. "VANILLA GRASS, a novel of redemption" is available for purchase online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kindle download. Your local bookstore can also order it for you.

www.lesliebratspis.com
https://www.amazon.com/author/lesliebratspis  

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Bratspis-Vanilla-Grass/1459047377684683 

Twitter: @LeslieBratspis 

NEW "VANILLA GRASS" 5-STAR REVIEW ON AMAZON HAS ME EXCITED!

I'm so thrilled with the newest Amazon review for "VANILLA GRASS, a novel of redemption" that posted yesterday, May 15th, I had to share it. I hope you'll indulge my excitement because this is what authors dream of and hope for after investing months, sometimes years, researching, writing and editing, not knowing if all their hard work is successfully coming across.


REVIEW: Every once in awhile, a book comes along that causes you not just to read it, but sit in silence afterwards thinking about what you have been reading. Vanilla Grass is such a book. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Everyone thinks they know what veterans face when they have PTSD, and you tend to brush aside "at risk teens" with perhaps a unsympathetic view, and oh yes, of course we've all heard about how meaningful a dog can be to a handicapped individual or even one with PTSD, but when you put all three elements into a single story, blend their interactions, speak in their language, and realize how initially, all three were misfits in a throw-away society that really wants to move on and not ask "why," you have a powerful book. In Vanilla Grass you have a powerful document that forces you to mentally address each element. This book was carefully researched by the author giving it, although a novel, a book based in fact. I highly recommend it - especially to Golden Retriever lovers! ~ Joy Viola, verified Amazon purchase

                                                                       *         *

I extensively researched while writing this novel. I already knew about dog rescue because I've been involved with rescuing Golden Retrievers and other breeds for 25 years so that part was easy. For the writings about PTSD caused from battle trauma, I drew upon memories of my former husband who served two tours in Vietnam. He came back a changed man from what he saw and did there. Although we divorced some years later, we're still friends and keep in touch. I also read extensively on the subject of battle-induced PTSD--articles and interviews. I watched many videos on YouTube and an HBO special featuring returning combatants from Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. A close friend who also served in Vietnam shared many stories of his Vietnam experience with me before he passed away from complications due to Agent Orange exposure. It's all included in the book. My husband is a licensed therapist in private practice who has some military clients. Due to confidentiality he cannot give me any specifics about clients, but he was able to tell me many facts about the symptoms and effects of battle-induced PTSD.

Then, there was the challenge of writing teenage slang. While not all teens speak this way, many do and I wanted to be accurate in my depiction of them. I didn't know the first thing about how to write slang. So, I rode the bus to observe and listen to kids going to and from school. I watched weekly TV shows such as "Twisted" and "Graceland" featuring teens and young adults to get ideas of mean things they say to each other (snarking). I also watched movies featuring high school teens. While doing this, I took copious notes. Whenever I needed a particularly descriptive word I didn't already have, I referred to a slang dictionary. Since the book has been released, I've had readers contact me to let me know the kids in the book sound just like theirs!

One more thing--the character of Colleen is based on one of my closest friends (of another name). I asked her permission, and then she started talking about herself while again, I scribbled notes as fast as I could! Everything Colleen reveals about herself through conversation is exactly what my friend told me. I already knew things about her, but I wanted to capture them in her own words.

I wrote this novel as a way to acknowledge our soldiers' internal battles and challenges, and the wounds they live with when they return from war, some visible and others unseen. My dedication page reads: "For all who carry unseen scars." I hope you'll read "VANILLA GRASS" and take something with you to appreciate and remember.

PTSD AND VETERAN SUICIDE IS WHY I WROTE "VANILLA GRASS"

My former husband was twice deployed to Vietnam. I have memories of how changed he was when he returned. He looked the same, but looks can be deceiving. I had no idea what was going on inside his mind. While he was overseas he wrote letters about missing me and looking forward to coming home, but they never revealed anything about what it was like being there. His fear. His trauma. These were his guarded secrets. Years later, long divorced and both of us remarried, we finally had a long phone conversation about his Vietnam experience. It was cathartic. We cried.

I wrote “VANILLA GRASS, a novel of redemption” about the challenges Veterans past and present face with flashbacks and depression as part of their daily struggle with PTSD. Until recently, post deployment integration has offered little help readjusting after coming home from war. Thankfully that’s beginning to change. This is so important because there are 22 reported military suicides daily. It's a national tragedy.

“VANILLA GRASS” shows the healing power of dogs for those struggling with PTSD when conventional attempts of therapy have failed. With their heightened senses of empathy and instinct, dogs are capable of bonding with humans to become their emotional healers. With this book I’ve attempted to raise awareness of the challenges our veterans and active military are coping with in their day-to-day lives. The story also exposes current problems with a fictitious group of at-risk teenagers who are promiscuous, talk slang, swear, smoke pot, rob houses, and have no goals. I’ve written how through example, the importance of community banding together to make a positive change in these kids’ lives brings forth surprising results.

The "star" of my book is Sage. She was a nine-month-old abused Golden Retriever puppy, blind in one eye, being chocked to death by a chain around her neck that had been slipped over her head when she was much smaller. I rescued her on her "last day" at the shelter and she lived five happy years with our two other Goldens who became her canine pals. Sadly the early abuse she suffered cut her life short. I have resurrected Sage in my novel because her courage and spirit made her the perfect companion for my Vietnam Vet battling PTSD. Writing about her brought her back to me for a little while. I miss her every day.

"VANILLA GRASS" is available from the usual online retailers and directly from Robertson Publishing. You can also purchase it from my website www.lesliebratspis.com and there's a "shop now" link on its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leslie-Bratspis-Vanilla-Grass/1459047377684683?ref=hl

Thank you!
Leslie Bratspis

www.lesliebratspis.com
www.rp-author.com/bratspis
 http://www.amazon.com/Vanilla-Grass-Leslie-Bratspis/dp/1611701961/ref=sr_1_1_twi_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427499318&sr=1-1&keywords=vanilla+grass+by+leslie+bratspis
Twitter:  @LeslieBratspis