What Are Angels?

I've been working on marketing my book, and during that process I was asked, "Why angels?" The question referred to the book title: "In the Presence of Angels." Most people have believed in angels at some time in their lives, and have experienced an inexplicable, wonderous happening, protection, or direction. There is no other explanation for these phenomena other than that somehow something beyond the norm, whether we call it an angel intervention or not, has occurred. And so I thought, "Why angels, indeed!"

By definition, angels are considered to be etherial, spiriual beings that are seen as the workers or messengers that tell us about the word of God. Angels don't struggle with good and evil as does man, and each angel has a specific and individual mission to carry out. No two angels are given the same task.

Some people see angels as heavenly beings that float around the place we call heaven on a bank of fluffy, white clouds, bright halos shimmering around their heads, wings on their backs, carrying harps or trumpets, and wearing long, flowing robes.

Others think an angel is a loved one, ancient or recent, who has left this dimension for another. They look much as they did in this life so that we will feel comforted by their existance but have no corporal bodies. When we tune into them, and we all can, they seem to be much the same as they were in this life, only wiser, kinder, and more peaceful. Angels have moved beyond human failings, illness, and pain, but they present themselves as we remember them. They do have specific missions, mostly those that steer us from wrong to right.

All these opinions leave us still wondering what angels are. Perhaps it is meant that people simply accept what makes them happy and comfortable on faith. And faith is what it's all about...

Email and Library Campaigns

I wasn't kidding when I said I was busy, as you can see from the date of this blog entry. After sending out the email to Hawaiian Culture Clubs, I concentrated on contacting bookstores in my area via email attachment, informing them about the book "In the Presence of Angels." The next step will be a follow-up by telephone requesting book signings.

My next campaign was notifying libraries. Although Outskirts Press sends my information to Baker & Taylor who, in turn, notify libraries of new books, I've been advised that the "personal touch" of letter writing is better, sending out the same information as the email attachments, requesting that they buy a copy of my book and offering to do book signings and readings. Letter writing takes much longer and is more expensive than email. However, many libraries don't publish their email addresses, and so stamps, envelopes, and paper is the way to go. I've done a mailing to area libraries near to my hometown, and I'm preparing for the next group. I will be mailing out a total of over 200 letters.

Now I wait to see what transpires, and next I will look up spiritual organizations through the U.S. and email or write to them.