Well, folks, it's almost here. My first ebook is ready to hit the ether. Thanks to my computer guru nephew, Les, there will be one more missive to peruse. It has been a long road.

In the meantime, would you like to know what Auntie D stands for? You see, my given name is Donna and, being the dutiful nephew he is, Les refers to me as Auntie D. However, given my dyslexic, not-able-to-read-written-instructions, mindscape, I have offered Les a few extra meanings for the D in said salutation. Like Auntie Dense, Auntie Dull, Aunti Ditz… well, you get the idea.

Les gave me a copy of Dreamweaver, complete with Fireworks, Flash and a lot of other goodies a few years back. (He taught a class at the University, so these were educational products.) Then, he sat down at my brand new computer and proceeded to tell me – at length – how to use the programs. Have you ever turned on the tap to fill a glass with water and gotten an explosion of H₂O from a line with air in it? The glass shatters in the sink and you yell, "Damn! I just wanted a drink!"

Well, that's kind of what happens when you ask Les a question. His head is so full of knowledge that it's like Niagra Falls suddenly diverted to Pine Creek. Or, in my case, an overload of information resulting in brain freeze. It took months for me to learn the protocols. But, once begun, it was a blast. And, for about ten years I kept up a webpage titled MND SONG BOOKS. Then, it got to be a hassle; I got busy, and I finally discontinued it.

Wouldn't you know the ebook explosion would come along and the very thing I needed to deliver the books was a webpage! Of course, I had totally forgotten how to build one. Oh, Les es es! And out of the west came the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse, Silver! Now, he's building me this neat blogging page so I'll have a "Web Presence". Hey, I already have a web presence. Just type in Donna Swanson and you'll get well over a hundred references to yours truly.

However, as we talked on the phone yesterday, Les gave a whole new meaning to the term web presence. He told of blogs and forums and hundreds of excited readers wanting to talk to the author. That sounds like a lot of fun. And, with seven books eventually coming out, there will be a lot to talk about.

So, I will polish my listening skills and try to pay close attention to my mentor. Even if he is windily wise. Auntie Delightful is waiting.

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If you’ve just come in for a visit, let me tell you what this site is about. Primarily, it was a place to advertise and talk about the ebooks I’ve been putting online. You can find a lot of information about them, such as story lines, character studies, philosophy behind the plot lines, etc,

But there are also pieces that have nothing to do with books. They are about life in general. Some are comical, some are poetry, some are serious, but I believe all will keep you reading and coming back for more.

If you have a question about the books or about life in general, have at it and leave a comment. I promise to get back to as many of you as time permits.

My overarching philosophy is a quote from D.E. Trueblood, philosopher and theologian: “The mind becomes like that on which it feeds.” I hope to provide healthy fodder for thought, inspiration and downhome fun.

Thanks for coming. Y’all come back.

Donna Swanson, the Mindsinger