Sunday, October 30, 2011

Happy Halloween From Author Davis Aujourd'hui and His Zany Characters


Have a Safe and Fun Halloween!




                                                        From Millan.Net

Shining the Book Promotion Spotlight on Davis Aujourd’hui


Davis Aujourd’hui is the author of the Sister Mary Olga Fortitude series of hilarious satires. The first book is entitled “The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude.” It was followed by “Babes in Bucksnort.”

Davis possesses a rich life experience that has enabled him to draw from it in order to create a colorful canvas upon which to paint very human lives. He is a retired social worker, having worked for Adult Protective Services in New York State for nearly twenty years. He developed the characters within his series of books in order to entertain a colleague by using the gift of humor.

As will be the case with Sister Mary Olga in his third book, he is a recovering alcoholic. He also happens to be gay as are several of the endearing and humorous characters within his novels. He can speak from his own experience. He has possessed all of the foibles of his cast of characters who are naughty, nasty, and nice.

Davis lives in Upstate New York where he is currently sharing his life with his partner of seven years. He is socially-minded and spirituality is the most important ingredient in order for him to maintain a happy and successful life.


Welcome to Book Marketing Buzz, Davis. Can we begin by having you tell us a little about your book?

"The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" is a satire with a spiritual message, but there’s a lot of hanky panky going on here. Sister Mary Olga is an irreverent nun who has some unique spiritual views that differ from those of the Pope. She’s a great believer of “to each, one’s own.” She also loves her Marlboros and her bourbon. Just don’t let the Reverend Mother in on her secret. The next class in Advanced Holiness may be canceled.


Here in Bucksnort, you’ll meet a zany cast of all-too-human characters. There’s a lot of secret-keeping going on here, but Sister Mary Olga will be sure to deliver the goods in order to provide you with good and bad examples of holiness.


The Reverend Mother is a former prostitute. The convent’s chef is a gay cowboy. Priscilla Bunhead is the town busybody who opens some other closet doors. She, along with the other folks on Dinkledorf Drive, serve up examples of what not to do.


One thing’s for sure. These characters will lighten your load and help you to not take life so seriously. Get ready for non-stop laughs.

What is the first thing you did to promote your book once your publisher accepted your manuscript?


I started telling all of my friends about it. Then I contacted my local bookstores and began to arrange book signings. I also contacted a national magazine that featured an enthusiastic article on my first book.

After that, what happened?

I sold a lot of books to very pleased people. Ecstatic reviews began to appear on Amazon.com by readers who said they couldn’t put the first book down and couldn’t wait for the next one to be published.


What did your publisher do to promote your book?
Absolutely nothing!

What’s your opinion on blogging? Do you see that it is helping sell your book or is it not making much difference in terms of sales?

My blogs have attracted scores of readers. It’s my hope that they will result in a multitude of sales.

I understand using the social networks to promote your books is also an effective marketing tool. Do you find it is or isn’t?
Facebook has been very helpful.


Besides blogging and using the social networks to promote your books, what other ways are you promoting your book?

I have done scores of radio interviews.

If you had to pick just one book marketing tool that you’ve used to promote your book, which would you say has been the most effective?

The most effective tool thus far has been the magazine article.

What are your experiences with offline promotions such as booksignings?

They have been very successful.

Thank you for this interview, Davis!

We wish you much success!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

AN EXCERPT FROM "The MISADVENTURES of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude"

Speaking of looking up, that brings me to the subject of Sister Samantha's secret. Lord, have mercy! Well now! I was extremely thirsty following my most recent week of penance on my knees in my humble little cell; so, I'd made a hasty visit to Randy Cowboy who was generous enough to give me a half gallon of Jack Daniel's.

I threw caution to the wind and I ducked into cubicle number four where I began to have a few nips. Oh, I must confess the truth. I tied one on! By the time I'd passed out, I'd managed to refresh myself with almost half of that big bottle. Oh my!

Sometime during the night, I must have slipped off the toilet and landed on the floor. I didn't wake up until the following morning; and, I must say, I had quite a headache! I also realized that I had partially slid under cubicle number three; and, I couldn't get up.

Well, wouldn't you know it, the restroom door burst open and I immediately thought that the gig was up. With my luck, I thought that it might be Mother Carmen and that I'd be sent back to my cell for another week of solitary confinement.

Fortunately, God spared me that ordeal and He had sent me an angel. It was Sister Samantha. Of course, I didn't find that out immediately. Let's just say that we both had a big surprise in store!

Well! There I was, with my head under cubicle number three, when I heard Sister Samantha singing Amazing Grace as she entered that very cubicle! Apparently, she was so moved by the Holy Spirit that she didn't even notice my head facing up toward her toilet.

I closed my eyes in reverent prayer just as she was lowering her panties. As she was preparing to sit upon her throne, her habit swished over my face which brought me to attention. I opened my eyes by reflex. Boy, did I get an eyeful and I do mean boy! Sister Samantha wasn't a woman! Lord, have mercy!

Well! It was a rather awkward situation to say the least! I had learned of Sister Samantha's incredible secret. I also needed her help. What could I do, but gently murmur, “Please help me, Sister. I've fallen and I can't get up.”

Let me tell you, Sister Samantha might not have been a woman, but she let out a high-pitched scream that sounded like a woman giving birth. She jumped off her pot and she whooshed her habit off my pleading face. If anyone else could have seen us at that very moment, I'm sure that both of our faces would have appeared beet red.

Well! If either of us had had a blackmailing bone in our bodies, we both would have had sufficient ammunition to use against the other. Suffice it to say, each of us took a higher path except Sister Samantha had the higher advantage at that moment.

Well, that little woman proved to be very strong. She grabbed me under my arms. Then she pulled me right under the partition of cubicle number three and out onto the restroom floor.

Even though I was feeling very shaky, in more ways than one, I managed to get myself up and onto my wobbly legs. Well, what could I say besides, “Thank you;” however, given the situation, it seemed that something else might be in order.

I felt rather like Little Red Riding Hood when she discovered that her grandmama was actually a wolf. The nice thing about my situation was that Sister Samantha wasn't about to eat me up. I decided right then and there that I wasn't going to give her up.

“Sister,” I said. “How did you ever pull it off?”

That's when she told me her story. You see, Sister Samantha just happened to have been born in the wrong body. She was really every bit as much of a woman as myself with one notable exception. God sure works in mysterious ways!

Sister Samantha was the most beautiful child. She was christened “Bobby O'Reilly” and she was her mother's only son. As it had turned out, he was her only daughter too.

Mother and child lived with Bobby's grandmother on the family farm. He was conceived on Christmas Eve and he was born on the harvest moon of the following year. It was a fruitful harvest, in more ways than one! He was his mother's pride and joy as well as being the favorite grandchild of his elderly grandmother. Little Samantha or, should I say, little Bobby was a perfect angel.

On his first day of school, his mother dressed him up in knickers and she sent him off to the Baptist academy in his hometown which was located in a little parish similar to our own. When he returned from school, both his mother and grandmother were in for a big surprise.

Little Bobby had discovered the academy's Good Will clothes closet and he had decided to change his outfit. When he returned to his grandmother's farm, he was wearing a dress, high heels, and he had braided his long locks into a perfect French braid.

Grandma O'Reilly chastened her daughter by exclaiming, “Whatever possessed you to send Bobby to school like that?”

Bobby's dumbfounded mother simply stared at her son and said, “I didn't!”

That was just the beginning. By the time Bobby was in high school, he had run off to the big city and he had started living as a woman. He had the most gorgeous natural female breasts and he began to receive hormone shots that made him the envy of the big city drag queens.

He named himself Samantha Monet and he decided to seek fame and fortune as a female impersonator. With his new female voice, he could hit a high C and he was soon performing in the big city clubs and making big money.

One of his favorite routines involved him dressing as a nun. It only seemed fitting since he had converted to Catholicism and he had decided that, once he'd had a taste of the world, he was going to become a nun. Sister Samantha was a smashing success as she wooed the crowds with her renditions of religious songs that soon won converts to her beloved Savior.

Sister Samantha was planning on having a sex change, but a part of her believed she was born in a man's body to teach the world a lesson in tolerance of those who are different from others. Well! Sister Samantha had already taught me a lesson!

Author Davis Aujourd'hui

"The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" is available in Paperback for $13.95 HERE!!!!

Kindle Version is $3.99 and can be purchased HERE!!!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

JOIN ME ON MY VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR -"The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude"


You may wonder what I'm doing now. I'm traveling the internet on a virtual book tour. Throughout this process, I am doing interviews with a variety of websites and appearing on a multitude of blogs. You can track my progress by visiting:

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2011/09/17/the-misadventures-of-sister-mary-olga-fortitude-virtual-book-publicity-tour-september-2011/


During the remainder of this month, I am touring the first book in my series, "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude". Then, next month, I will be touring its sequel, the hilarious "Babes in Bucksnort".


You will find out all about how I came to write my books as well as to learn the secret to my success. I had not planned to be an author, but that has become my occupation. I let my inspiration lead the way as I continue to spin outrageously funny tales about the residents of the fictional town of Bucksnort, Wisconsin.

I believe that my books contain messages of hope in addition to the zany humor that allows my readers to laugh from the beginning to their ends. It has been my hope that people will wake up to their own spiritual potential. I incorporate many teachings of today's leading spiritual authors amidst the hilarity. I believe that we, as the human race, have a greater potential than we have realized. I hope that we will come to see past our own differences and to embrace that we are all one in the spirit.


My books have a similar flavor to the zany books of Carl Hiassen. They are also a continuing saga of endearing characters such as in The Tales of the City series created by Armistead Maupin.

What makes my books different are the spiritual messages contained within them. My books are special because they make my readers take a good look at themselves. By doing so, they will hopefully look at how they may be similar to my characters – naughty, nasty, and nice.

In so doing, it will give my readers an opportunity to discard characteristics which no longer serve them. At the same time, they will be able to develop virtues that will make themselves better persons.

Author Davis Aujourd'hui

Both are available in Paperback and Kindle Format at http://www.amazon.com/
Paperback: $13.95
Kindle Format: $3.99

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Davis Aujourd’Hui author Of The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude: aWriter’sWords

JV RADIO PICTURES
Posted on October 24, 2011 by valentinetti


What inspires your stories?
Years ago, when I was a social worker, I developed my characters in order to entertain a colleague of mine. I would leave her voice mails in which I impersonated characters within scenarios that I spontaneously created. She loved it and that inspired me to develop more. When I retired, I thought to myself that I could write a book about my chain-smoking, bourbon-swilling nun along with the cast of other zany characters. I sat down and wrote "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" in a little over a month. Since I hadn’t run out of ideas, I immediately continued by writing "Babes in Bucksnort". From there, I wrote a total of eleven books in the series. I hope to have "Have A Heart" published within a year.


What inspires your stories?
Years ago, when I was a social worker, I developed my characters in order to entertain a colleague of mine. I would leave her voice mails in which I impersonated characters within scenarios that I spontaneously created. She loved it and that inspired me to develop more. When I retired, I thought to myself that I could write a book about my chain-smoking, bourbon-swilling nun along with the cast of other zany characters. I sat down and wrote "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" in a little over a month. Since I hadn’t run out of ideas, I immediately continued by writing "Babes in Bucksnort". From there, I wrote a total of eleven books in the series. I hope to have "Have A Heart" published within a year.


What inspires your stories?
Years ago, when I was a social worker, I developed my characters in order to entertain a colleague of mine. I would leave her voice mails in which I impersonated characters within scenarios that I spontaneously created. She loved it and that inspired me to develop more. When I retired, I thought to myself that I could write a book about my chain-smoking, bourbon-swilling nun along with the cast of other zany characters. I sat down and wrote "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" in a little over a month. Since I hadn’t run out of ideas, I immediately continued by writing "Babes in Bucksnort". From there, I wrote a total of eleven books in the series. I hope to have Have A Heart published within a year.


What experience do you want for your readers?
I want my readers to laugh out loud from beginning to end. I also want them to take a look at themselves as they relate to the characters. In so doing, my readers may discover qualities they wish to develop as they let go of those which do not serve their continued growth.

What inspires your stories?
Years ago, when I was a social worker, I developed my characters in order to entertain a colleague of mine. I would leave her voice mails in which I impersonated characters within scenarios that I spontaneously created. She loved it and that inspired me to develop more. When I retired, I thought to myself that I could write a book about my chain-smoking, bourbon-swilling nun along with the cast of other zany characters. I sat down and wrote "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" in a little over a month. Since I hadn’t run out of ideas, I immediately continued by writing "Babes in Bucksnort". From there, I wrote a total of eleven books in the series. I hope to have "Have A Heart" published within a year.


What genre do you gravitate toward and why?
I write in the humor genre with a slant toward satire that contains a spiritual message. I do this because I love to make people laugh. I also want my readers to come away with inspiration and food for thought. I dedicate all of my books to adult children who deserve a chance to not take life so seriously.

What are your work habits like?
I generally write every day. I write from two to ten hours per day. I let inspiration be my guide and let it flow from there.

What do you consider your best work?
My best works are yet to come, but both "Misadventures" and "Babes" have been well-received. I have received an average of 4.5 out of 5 star reviews on Amazon.com.

Do you plot out your novels in advance or do you write on the fly?
 I let inspiration be my guide. I do not plot out my novels in advance, though I sometimes have certain themes and scenarios I want to develop as I continue to write. I generally allow my intuition develop the tale as I continue to go with the flow. The end results have always been very gratifying.

What experience do you want for your readers?
I want my readers to laugh out loud from beginning to end. I also want them to take a look at themselves as they relate to the characters. In so doing, my readers may discover qualities they wish to develop as they let go of those which do not serve their continued growth.


Are any of your character traits or settings based on real life?
All fiction tends to be based upon the writer’s life experience. Such has been the case with me. I have incorporated qualities I have witnessed in others as I have developed my characters. What has been the most fun for me has to create nasty characters based on ornery people I have known in real life.

What are your most significant challenges when you write?
The most significant challenge has been writer’s block. When I encounter that, I simply let go of all thoughts. As I do so, inspiration returns to me and I continue to go with the flow. It is also a challenge to keep track of my many characters and to give them equal attention within my books. As they develop over time, I need to remember what has transpired in previous books. This often means that I need to return to my previous books as a touchstone for further development.


What are you currently working on?
I have just finished a reincarnational romance about a couple who travels through three lifetimes together. I am currently seeking an agent to represent the book to a traditional publisher.


Do you have any writing advice you would like to share with aspiring authors?
Keep writing and perfecting your craft. Keep the faith and never give up.


The title of your current book?
"The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude"

Give a brief synopsis.
Are you ready for a class in Advanced Holiness for people from all walks of life? Then, perhaps you’re ready to take a trip to the Have A Heart convent in Bucksnort, Wisconsin. There, you’ll meet a nun you’re not likely to forget – Sister Mary Olga Fortitude.

"The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" is a satire with a spiritual message, but there’s a lot of hanky panky going on here. Sister Mary Olga is an irreverent nun who has some unique spiritual views that differ from those of the Pope. She’s a great believer of “to each, one’s own.” She also loves her Marlboros and her bourbon. Just don’t let the Reverend Mother in on her secret. The next class in Advanced Holiness may be canceled.


Here in Bucksnort, you’ll meet a zany cast of all-too-human characters. There’s a lot of secret-keeping going on here, but Sister Mary Olga will be sure to deliver the goods in order to provide you with good and bad examples of holiness.

The Reverend Mother is a former prostitute. The convent’s chef is a gay cowboy. Priscilla Bunhead is the town busybody who opens some other closet doors. She, along with the other folks on Dinkledorf Drive, serve up examples of what not to do.

One thing’s for sure. These characters will lighten your load and help you to not take life so seriously. Get ready for non-stop laughs.


Give us an excerpt.
Speaking of looking up, that brings me to the subject of Sister Samantha’s secret. Lord, have mercy! Well now! I was extremely thirsty following my most recent week of penance on my knees in my humble little cell; so, I’d made a hasty visit to Randy Cowboy who was generous enough to give me a half gallon of Jack Daniel’s.

I threw caution to the wind and I ducked into cubicle number four where I began to have a few nips. Oh, I must confess the truth. I tied one on! By the time I’d passed out, I’d managed to refresh myself with almost half of that big bottle. Oh my!


Sometime during the night, I must have slipped off the toilet and landed on the floor. I didn’t wake up until the following morning; and, I must say, I had quite a headache! I also realized that I had partially slid under cubicle number three; and, I couldn’t get up.


Well, wouldn’t you know it, the restroom door burst open and I immediately thought that the gig was up. With my luck, I thought that it might be Mother Carmen and that I’d be sent back to my cell for another week of solitary confinement.

Fortunately, God spared me that ordeal and He had sent me an angel. It was Sister Samantha. Of course, I didn’t find that out immediately. Let’s just say that we both had a big surprise in store!


Well! There I was, with my head under cubicle number three, when I heard Sister Samantha singing Amazing Grace as she entered that very cubicle! Apparently she was so moved by the Holy Spirit that she didn’t even notice my head facing up toward her toilet.


I closed my eyes in reverent prayer just as she was lowering her panties. As she was preparing to sit upon her throne, her habit swished over my face which brought me to attention. I opened my eyes by reflex. Boy, did I get an eyeful and I do mean boy! Sister Samantha wasn’t a woman! Lord, have mercy!

Biography of Davis Aujourd’hui (David Cowery).
Davis Aujourd’hui is the pen name of the author of the Sister Mary Olga Fortitude series. The first book, entitled “The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude,” was just published in October 2008 by Outskirts Press. “Babes in Bucksnort” is the first sequel, soon to be followed by “Have A Heart.”

Davis is a new author, yet he possesses a rich life experience that has enabled him to draw from it in order to create a colorful canvas upon which to paint very human lives. He is a retired social worker, having worked for Adult Protective Services in New York State for nearly twenty years. He developed the characters within his series of books in order to entertain a colleague of his using the gift of humor.

As will be the case of the title character in his third book, Davis is a recovering alcoholic. He also happens to be gay as is the case with several of the endearing and humorous characters within his novels. He can speak from his own experience. He has possessed all of the foibles of his cast of characters, including those naughty, nasty, and nice.

Author Davis Aujourd'hui

"The Misadvantures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" Paperback $13.95 and can be purchased here!!!!! Kindle Version available for $3.99 and can be purchased here!!!!!

"Babes in Bucksnort" Paperback $13.95 and can be purchased here!!! Kindle Version available for $3.99 and can be purchased here!!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE SISTER MARY OLGA

So, you've finished "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude"and "Babes in Bucksnort". The good news is that you won't have to wait long for the next hilarious installment. Have A Heart is just around the corner. Let me give you a tempting taste of the upcoming action.

After continued drunken bouts, Sister Mary Olga Fortitude is given an ultimatum by Reverend Mother Carmen Burana. She is given the choice of going away to Holy Happenings Rehab or being dismissed from "Have A Heart" convent where she teaches classes in Advanced Holiness. She begrudgingly consents to rehab where she continues to encounter more zany experiences before later joining the twelve-step program called Alcoholics Unanimous.


Meanwhile, the convent's gay chef, Randy Cowboy, continues to attend his own twelve-step program, Sex Maniacs Notorious. Unfortunately for him, he develops AIDs which is a consequence of his previous history as a sex addict. Fortunately for him, he has the support of the transgendered nun, Sister Samantha Monet, who secretly pines for him.

Mayhem ensues when the town busybody and prude, Priscilla Bunhead, sniffs out the dirt about AIDs coming to the fictional town of Bucksnort, Wisconson. She broadcasts the alarm to the arch conservative Reverend Billy-Bob Blunthead who continues his campaign to wipe out perversion in the Snortlands. Along with his histrionic, Tammy Faye Baker-type wife, Pinky Poo, he stages elaborate spectacles in his church where he hopes to gain the support of the local community.

His campaign ultimately fails for a two reasons. A spirit entity by the named of Ruth, channeled by Cherie Amour, begins to enlighten the community that Billy-Bob is not preaching spiritual truths. Then, in one of the books continuing climactic scenes, he is exposed as a fraud by one of his disciples with whom he has been engaging in his own homosexual dalliances.

The lavish life he had begun when millionaire Mildred Mayflower donated her mansion to him collapses. The church he had founded upon that estate crumbles. Mildred wins back her estate when her attorney convinces the erratic Judge Havnomercy that she had been out of her mind when she had made Billy-Bob her bequest. Further mayhem escalates when Priscilla ends up losing an inheritance from her Aunt Igotta Bea Bunhead and goes berserk.

Along with her sycophant neighbor, the two of them become inpatients at Down the Rabbit Hole psychiatric ward. More misfortunes unfold for some of the other bumbling and misguided characters such as Dr. Wally Wacky-Wacko who has impregnated a teenaged girl who later blackmailed him. In a desperate attempt to raise a payoff to Dimples Dufus, he decides to become a pot dealer. Poor Dr. Wally. Sheriff Boris Toodeth catches him in the act.


Fortune smiles on Randy Cowboy and the brave Sister Samantha. After much soul-searching, she decides to proclaim her love for the cowboy. She marches into her Reverend Mother's quarters and announces that she's going to leave the convent to marry the cowboy. The bewildered Reverend Mother wonders how that will work since Randy is gay. That's when Sister Samantha unveils her secret; that she is really a woman trapped in a man's body.


Among the other unfolding stories of the deliciously-named and diverse characters, a sense of justice is obtained for many of the persecuted. As for the antagonists in the story, several cliffhangers will entice the readers to thirst for the next book in the series.

Author Davis Aujourd'hui

Thursday, October 20, 2011

WHO IS DAVIS AUJOURD'HUI?


My name is Davis Aujourd'hui and I am the author of "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude". I have always loved to write, but I didn't get beyond freshman English in college. I resented the criticism of the teaching assistant who had said that my writing was too complex. Perhaps I should have listened to him. I only punished myself by not taking other writing courses.

I had two very short-lived careers in the business field. My first career was in academic publishing where I served as a field representative. I then pursued another dream career in real estate. Unfortunately, that was short-lived due to a then unfavorable economy. Eventually, I became a social worker with New York State Adult Protective Services. A seemingly unfortunate health situation resulted in a blessing. I became able to retire at a very young age.

I've had several challenges along the way. Paramount, were my problems with addiction and mental illness. My journey into recovery had begun over twenty years ago. While I then knew that I had a problem with sexual addiction, I first had to deal with another problem of which I had been in denial. I had been drinking alcoholically for many years. I can now see where I was medicating something else. A few years later, I was diagnosed with manic-depression. After years of suicidal depressions, I had my first mania after my last drinking binge.

Isn't it ironic that I endured some of the same problems that my clients had! In a sense, they taught me what healing I needed for myself. It's just that I needed help. That came from God who provided me with 12-step programs, therapy, and a good psychiatrist.

Despite my history of depression, I had usually possessed an incredible sense of humor. I sure needed that in order to get by in my life as we all do. I especially needed that during the twenty years that I was a social worker. That's when I developed the character of Sister Mary Olga.

I soon began to develop the other zany characters until I had created an entire cast. I would call up my friend and I would leave her voice-mails during which I would create spontaneous outlandish and hilarious scenarios. She loved it and that gave me a lot of joy!


At the point when I had finished my memoirs, I thought to myself, I bet I could write a book about these crazy characters! So I sat down and I wrote a book in a little over a month. The thing was, I still had more ideas! I did the only logical thing. I wrote another book. Guess what? I hadn't run out of ideas yet! Over the course of the next four I wrote eleven novels in the series and I still haven't run out of ideas!


Around the time that I was getting ready to have the first book published, I asked my mother-in-law if she would pose in a nun's habit as Sister Mary Olga on the cover of my book. You see, to me, she embodied my mental concept of what Sister Mary Olga should look like. She said, “Sure, Davis! I'll do it for you!”

Unfortunately, she passed away before that could happen. As she lay on her deathbed, I said to her, “Jan, I'm going to get you on that cover one way or another!” Thanks to the marvelous illustrator for my cover, that person was able to create a nun's habit over her picture. Once that was done, I dedicated my first book to her.

Only in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would become an author! Yet suddenly I began to write as if it was my full-time job. If you wonder what I'm doing now, I'll tell you. I'm polishing the other books in the series so that they will be fine and outrageously funny gems like the jewel of this first two books I've created: Misadventures and Babes in Bucksnort. You can soon look forward to reading the next book in the series, "Have A Heart".


Author Davis Aujourd'hui

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE!


Do you remember the section of the Reader's Digest by that name? Such is indeed the case! Without giving expression to the joy within you, you won't experience the fullness of life which is intended for all of us.

As an adult, you can become consumed by your worries and the busyness of life. In so doing, you're missing out on your innate joy. I've heard it said that children laugh hundreds of times per day. On the contrary, adults only laugh about six times per day. Wouldn't you say it's time to change that? How can you do this?

You can begin by finding humor within situations that you didn't used to find so funny. Perspective gives you an advantage that you didn't always find during those past moments. You can share a joke with a friend. You can go to a funny movie or read a funny book. With the latter choice, I can offer you a vehicle for side-splitting laughter.

I am the author of a series of hilarious books that will provide you an escape into a journey of unbridled joy. In them, you will take a trip to the fictional town of Bucksnort, Wisconsin where you'll meet a nun you are not likely to forget.


Sister Mary Olga Fortitude enjoys tipping a bottle of bourbon while she puffs away on her Marlboros. She spins funny tales about the folks on Dinkledorf Drive that you will never forget. You'll meet the Reverend Mother who was a former prostitute. You'll meet the handsome gay cowboy who is a chef at the convent.

You'll meet the ornery prude, Priscilla Bunhead, who is always digging in the dirt. Trust me, she finds plenty of that among her neighbors. You'll meet the irascible Martha Mayhem who always finds a bone to pick with her neighbors. You'll even meet a nun who is really a man. Along with them, you'll meet a host of deliciously zany characters that will keep you laughing in stitches.

Start out your journey with "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude". Have no fear, the journey won't end there. You'll want to devour the next book, "Babes in Bucksnort", as soon as you've finished the first.

The good news is that both books are available for sale on Amazon.com. There, you will get free shipping and handling if you order both of them at the same time. They are also available in Kindle format where you will save more than three times over the cost of the paperbacks. (Kindles are $3.99)


The books are quick reads. You can easily polish off one on a lazy rainy afternoon. Curl up on your comfy sofa and get ready to laugh. I guarantee you'll be ready to delve into the next one at your next earliest opportunity.

The other good news is that I have polished off nine other books in the series. You will soon be able to look forward to reading Have A Heart. In it, you will discover the nasty little secret of the Reverend Billy-Bob Blunthead and his Born Again or Burn Forever Disciples for Jesus. You will also meet a free spirit named Cherie Amour who channels spiritual truths that rival those of Sister Mary Olga.

Yes, indeed! Get ready to laugh and find your way back to your joy. Then share that joy with your friends. Everyone needs a good laugh. Pass it on and your own joy will be multiplied.

Author Davis Aujourd'hui

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

About "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" Part 2 From Literal Exposure

Are you ready for a class in Advanced Holiness for people from all walks of life? Then, perhaps you’re ready to take a trip to the Have A Heart convent in Bucksnort, Wisconsin. There, you’ll meet a nun you’re not likely to forget – Sister Mary Olga Fortitude.

"The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" is a satire with a spiritual message, but there’s a lot of hanky panky going on here. Sister Mary Olga is an irreverent nun who has some unique spiritual views that differ from those of the Pope. She’s a great believer of “to each, one’s own.” She also loves her Marlboros and her bourbon. Just don’t let the Reverend Mother in on her secret. The next class in Advanced Holiness may be canceled.


Here in Bucksnort, you’ll meet a zany cast of all-too-human characters. There’s a lot of secret-keeping going on here, but Sister Mary Olga will be sure to deliver the goods in order to provide you with good and bad examples of holiness.

The Reverend Mother is a former prostitute. The convent’s chef is a gay cowboy. Priscilla Bunhead is the town busybody who opens some other closet doors. She, along with the other folks on Dinkledorf Drive, serve up examples of what not to do.


One thing’s for sure. These characters will lighten your load and help you to not take life so seriously. Get ready for non-stop laughs

How Jules Jesslike Pappas Got His Name by author David Aujourd’hui



What’s in a name? After all, every name has its own special meaning. It’s just that for the characters in "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude", the meanings of their names tend to have a humorous tale. Sometimes the meaning of those names is obvious as in the case of Fartley Dinkledorf. He is a flatulent child who takes great and perverse pleasure in passing gas. Sometimes it’s not so obvious as in the case of Jules Jesslike Pappas. Let me tell you the tale behind his name.

Jules’ mother was a simple-minded woman who had a rather impulsive nature. I prefer to call her a free spirit, though some of the characters of Bucksnort, Wisconsin might be inclined to judge her. The prudish Priscilla Bunhead would be a case in point.

Irregardless, Mae I. Doomutch was a woman who embraced her sexuality. As a child Mae would always be asking the question, “May I do this or that?” As an adult, she would respond with a resounding “Yes!”

Mae was indeed doing much on the night of Jules’ conception. She just happened to have relations with men of two different races on that evening. Nine months later, Mae gave birth to a little girl. She also gave birth to Jules. It’s just that the girl popped out looking like creamy vanilla whereas Jules popped out with the complexion of milk chocolate.

When the nurse held up the little baby with the not-so-little member, Mae was reminded of his overly-endowed father. The nurse asked Mae, “What will you name him, dear?”


Mae took one look at the baby’s gigantic jewels and exclaimed, “Jewels just like pappa’s!” The nurse proceeded to record the baby’s name on the birth certificate. That name read as Jules Jesslike Pappas.

Take a delightful and hilarious trip to Bucksnort and meet some of the other zany characters. You’ll meet Fartley’s grandfather, Diddles, and his great-grandfather, the one-hundred five year-old Poopsy Dinkledorf.


You’ll arch your back when you meet the irascible Martha Mayhem. You’ll pop your cork when Priscilla Bunhead starts her campaign called BUN which stands for Bunheads Unite Now. It is basically an organization for ladies against women. Priscilla gets into unending altercations with Martha and her other neighbor, the voluptuous and sensual Lula Mae Bunsaplenty.

The good news about the characters of Bucksnort is that they will continue to have ongoing misadventures. This book is just the first in a series of social and religious satires. "Babes in Bucksnort" (book 2 of the Sister Mary Olga Series) 

In the meantime, check out the rave reviews on "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" on Amazon.com. While there, do yourself and your friends a favor. Buy a copy of the book for an endless series of laughs and pass the joy around. Then keep coming back to this blog to find out when other misadventures will be about to appear. I promise to provide you with a decade or more of belly laughs.

"The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga"(Book 1) is on sale at Amazon in Paperback for $13.95 and you can purchase HERE! Available in Kindle Format for $3.99 and you can purchase HERE!

"Babes in Bucksnort" (Book 2) is on sale at Amazon in Paperback for $13.95 and you can purchase Here! Available in Kindle Format for $3.99 and you can purchase HERE!

Monday, October 17, 2011

"Laughter is Contagious"

Look out! Laughter is infectious and it’s coming to your home! Want to know how can you catch it?

Have you ever walked into a room where laughter breaks out and you can’t help yourself but laugh too? In fact, you find it difficult to stop the uncontrollable burst of giggles or belly laughs. The more you try to stop, the more you laugh gasping with each joyful breath.

Laughter is truly contagious in every sense of the word. It is the happy form of the contagious yawn that seems to spread from one person to another. It doesn’t take long for an entire room of people to be laughing together.

The social benefits of humor and laughter through playful communication can strengthen all of our relationships. It helps to build strong, lasting bonds by simply sharing laughter and humor with another person. Laughter is an effective way to heal past hurts, disagreements, and resentments. What a powerful feeling and wonderful gift to share with someone else.

There is a definite link between laughter and good mental health. Laughter helps to dissolve stressful emotions. We’ve all felt stress in our lives and it seems that it’s commonplace nowadays. It’s almost impossible to feel angry, stressed, or sad when you’re laughing. You might want to try it sometime. I would suggest laughing right now! You can’t help but feel that twinge of stress begin to disappear from your body. Things don’t seem as serious as it did only a few moments ago.


You can actually accomplish more in your day by reducing stress and increasing physical energy. All of this can be accomplished just by laughing on a regular basis. Start with a smile, then a humorous thought or two, and finally a good laugh. You see, humor shifts perspective and allows you to see situations in a more realistic light and allows you not to feel overwhelmed. Let go and release inhibitions. Express your true feelings by sharing laughter with others.


I would like to share with you some of my laughs and humor with my books "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" and "Babes in Bucksnort". Both are available in Paperback and Kindle Formats at Amazon.com

Have you caught that laughter bug today?

Author Davis Aujourd'hui

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Anatomy of a Character: Introducing Sister Mary Olga Fortitude

Today I begin a series of interviews with authors talking about their main characters. What makes these characters tick? How did the author develop their personalities and quirks?

Today we are talking to Davis Aujourd’hui, author of "Babes in Bucksnort", about his main character, Sister Mary Olga Fortitude, the unconventional bourbon-swilling, chain-smoking nun.
Your new novel, "Babes in Bucksnort", is the first sequel to your Sister Mary Olga Fortitude series.

What inspired you to write this story?

Davis: That's easy! When I finished "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude", I hadn't run out of ideas for future, outrageously funny books like my current book, "Babes in Bucksnort". My creative juices were flowing and I was on a roll.

As you may not know, I developed the characters many years ago in order to entertain a colleague of mine when I had been a social worker. She absolutely loved the characters and that spurred me on to developed more deliciously dysfunctional ones.

When I retired, I thought to myself that I could write a book. One led to another. I've been gratified by the rave reviews which has only served to further inspire me to write more books. I have currently written a total of eleven books with which to further entice my readers with entertaining humor interspersed with nuggets of spiritual wisdom.

Your previous book, "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude", was quite a hoot and it was all because of the Sister nun herself. How did you ever come up with this character?


Davis: It was pure inspiration. One day, I thought of the character and left a voice-mail for my colleague. The following day at work, she listened to the message with curiosity. Then she took one look at me and burst into a cascade of laughter.

I have always loved zany humor. This has been a life-saver for me amidst a life filled with much pain. I love to mix it up and to be irreverent, just like the good, bourbon-swilling, chain-smoking nun. I am also a student of spirituality. I use my character to inspire others to wake up to their own spirits.

This has turned out to become a quest for me. I believe we are all spiritual beings having a human experience. As we embrace our spirits, life will become filled with the joy that we deserve to experience. I love to use humor to wake people up to their potential for joy.

What is it about Sister Mary Olga Fortitude that people just love?

Davis: People love her because she is all too human. She's not afraid to show her warts as well as her holiness. She has a zest for life and knows how to make people laugh until their sides ache.

Yes, she has some nasty little habits just as we all do. She loves her booze and her cigarettes which constantly gets her into trouble with her Reverend Mother, a reformed prostitute. This contrast provides for more delicious entertainment.

After all, life is all about contrast. From it, we can discern what we want to keep and what we want to give up.

Does Sister Mary Olga ever get rid of her nasty habits? Do you expect me to give away all of my secrets? You'll just have to keep reading. There's much more joy to come.
Is there anything about her that would make people go, “No way!”

Davis: Perhaps. How many nuns have large, hollow crucifixes with a flip-top which serve as flasks for bourbon? Sister Mary Olga has one. She's a sneaky little angel.

Perhaps some will think she's too full of herself as she teaches her classes in Advanced Holiness. What my readers need to understand is that we are all only too human. Such is the case with Sister Mary Olga. As my series continues, she is forced to look at her own foibles. Her choice is to stay stuck or to practice what she preaches.

Did the character develop more as you wrote the book or did you have a pretty good feeling of how she was going to turn out?

Davis: My character is like all of us. Nothing is constant in the human experience. Life forces us to take a look at ourselves and offers us the opportunity to grow. Such is the case with Sister Mary Olga.

As for my ability to determine what would become of her in my future books, I let inspiration lead the way. Humor was always my main goal in entertaining my readers, but I had an underlying motive as well. That was to wake people up to their own spirits as they read my hilarious books. Just like Sister Mary Olga, I'm sneaky too.

If you were going to develop a character sketch for the Sister, what would you say are her strengths and weaknesses?

Davis: Her strengths lie within her belief that we all have a potential to grow. Unfortunately, some people such as my character, Priscilla Bunhead, continue to stay stuck. Such is not the case with Sister Mary Olga. She continues to be confronted by the other characters in the book who challenge her to take a look at herself. Is this fun for her? Some of it is painful, but it is always entertaining.

Her weaknesses are also her strengths, just as it is for all of us. She, like us, is only human. When we can embrace our humanity, we can let go of that which no longer serves us and affirm those strengths we wish to possess.

The trick is to do it without judging ourselves. That's where humor comes in handy. If we can't laugh at ourselves, woe be to us. We don't need to beat ourselves up. We need to believe in our potential and to simply wake up to it. We also need to let our spirits rather than our egos guide us. This is a continuing lesson for the good sister.

Okay, shall I be more specific about her weaknesses and strengths? She is an addict. She can be judgmental. She can be holier than Thou. Yet she is an ongoing student of life. She learns from her child students and her adult babes. She may be a teacher of holiness, but just like us all, she is also a student of the human experience.

Would you say the Sister related well to people?

Davis: That's a challenge for her. She does have her pet peeves. She doesn't like her Reverend Mother against whom she holds a grudge. She can't believe that a former prostitute beat her out for the reverend mother position. This is an example of how she has judged others.

She also has a problem relating to others who practice judgment such as the prudish Priscilla Bunhead. This is where Sister Mary Olga needs to take a look in the mirror at her own ego. It can block her from seeing how she's not that much different from other humans who cast judgments.

The bottom line is that she is willing to admit her mistakes once she wakes up to them. She is a student of life and a practitioner of the Golden Rule. She believes in practicing what she preaches. This is her lesson to us all. If only we did unto others as we wished they would do unto us, life would be a bowl of cherries, minus the sour pits.

If there were a movie made out of "Babes in Bucksnort", who would play Sister Mary Olga?

Davis: Ah, that's a good one! I'd love to have one of the comedic giants of the day play her. My first thought was to cast Bette Midler, but her agent turned me down. Rosie O'Donnell or Ellen DeGeneres would be other good choices. Even so, I think the overlooked talent of Sally Struthers would be a natural. I recently saw her perform in a summer stock production of Legally Blond. Sally played a character to the hilt. She'd do good justice to Sister Mary Olga.

Besides the Bible, what other reading material would be on Sister Mary Olga’s bed stand?

Davis: She'd be an avid reader of spiritual and humorous books. She'd love Anthony DeMello, Eckhardt Tolle, and Deepak Chopra. She might wrestle with Wayne Dyer, but she'd love Armistead Maupin and Carl Hiassen.

What would say are the Sister’s passions?

Davis: Well, of course, she loves her bourbon and her Marlboros. More than anything, she loves the teachings of Jesus concerning unconditional love. She loves teaching about letting go of the human ego and embracing spirit which is only about joy, peace, and love. Above all, she loves humor which will lead us all to our own joy.

If you would meet Sister Mary Olga in person, what would she say to you about how you portrayed her in the book?

Davis: She'd say, “You hit the nail right on the head!”

Finally, if Sister Mary Olga had a few words of wisdom for my readers, what would she say?

Davis: That's easy! She'd say, “If you practice the Golden Rule, you wouldn't need the Ten Commandments.

Author Davis Aujourd Blog: http://authordavisaujourdhui.blogspot.com/

The Funniest Satire Series of the Decade Blog: http://bestsatireseriesofthedecade.blogspot.com/

"The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" is available in Paperback for $13.95 and can be PURCHASED HERE.! Also, available in Kindle Format for $3.99 and be PURCHASED HERE!

"Babes in Bucksnort" is available in Paperback for $13.95 and can be PURCHASED HERE! Also available in Kindle Format for $3.99 and you can PURCHASE HERE!

I hope you all enjoy,

Davis Aujourd'hui

Saturday, October 8, 2011

A CONVERSATION BETWEEN SISTER MARY OLGA & PRISCILLA BUNHEAD

Sister Mary Olga:

“Just wait one minute while I have a deliciously holy snort of bourbon and light up a Marlboro. Oh? What's that?... I'm on the radio!... Goodness Gravy! Forgive me, my dears. This is Sister Mary Olga Fortitude coming to you. Now! I've heard that some of you are interested in hearing about my misadventures. That's all well and good as long as you don't spread any malicious gossip. After all, there's nothing very holy about that!

Suffice it to say that life is happening in the sleepy little hamlet of Bucksnort, Wisconsin in just the same manner as everywhere else. It's just that most of you tend to keep your untidy little secrets to yourself. Ahem! Excuse me for just a moment while I have another refreshing drink of what I prefer to call heavenly spirits. Ah! That's much better!

Well! Thanks to a busybody named Priscilla Bunhead, nobody's business in the Snortlands of Wisconsin remains their own for very long. Priscilla is the president of an organization called BUN. That stands for Bunheads Unite Now. Why, she's recruited the most vulnerable female souls of Bucksnort who prefer to have someone else do their thinking for them. Just like Priscilla, her fellow bunheads all wear their hair in little buns at the back of their heads. This only serves to squeeze their little brains so tightly that they couldn't think for themselves even if they wanted to.”

(Suddenly there is a shrill voice in the background.)Priscilla Bunhead:
“Just wait one damn moment, you sanctimonious sister! We bunheads happen to practice human decency contrary to the likes of you and that former whore of your reverend mother, not to mention the perverts on Dinkledorf Drive. How would you like to live next to a half-Negro bastard like Jules Jesslike Pappas and his fat floozy, Lula Mae Bunsaplenty, while I have a couple of lesbos living on the other side of my unhappy home?

To make matters even worse, I think there's a homo or two on the block! Then there's that 105 year-old peeping Tom, Poopsy Dinkledorf, who lives across the street! The only comfort I have about this revolting situation is that I know they're all going straight to hell when they die. In the meantime, I'll get my satisfaction by doing everything in my power to make their lives as miserable as possible! Maybe that will convince them to get the hell out of Bucksnort!”
Sister Mary Olga
:

“Ahem! (followed by a whisper to the audience) - Hang on folks while I just have another little snort to calm my nerves. - It seems to me that you could benefit from one of my classes in Advanced Holiness. After all, as the good book says, 'Judge not, lest ye be judged.'”
Priscilla Bunhead:


“I'll be damned if I'll ever set my foot on the grounds of a Catholic convent! I happen to be a good Baptist so don't think that you're going to preach to me! After all, since you're always siding with the perverts, you'll also be going straight to hell. I just hope the readers of your books don't get suckered in by your so-called lessons in holiness. As the saying goes, 'Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing!'”

Sister Mary Olga:

“Now, now, my dear! Just be careful when you cast a judgment. After all, we're all only looking into a mirror at ourselves whenever we do that.”
Priscilla Bunhead:


“Poppycock, Mary Olga! I'm just here to let your listeners know that, if they read your books, they'll probably go straight to hell too. Quite frankly, I don't give a damn! They'll only have themselves to blame. At least I've done them the favor of warning them.”
Sister Mary Olga:



“Ahem! I'm sure you think you're doing them a kindness. Perhaps it would be better if you let them judge that for themselves. After all, all of God's children deserve a chance to have a good laugh and, (as Sister Mary Olga lets go of a belly laugh) God forgive me, you've just done that for me. Bless you, my dear.”
Priscilla Bunhead:


“You'd better wake up and smell the coffee before it's too late! As for me, I'm getting the hell out of here because your homo cowboy chef is coming this way with a tray of cookies. If you know what's good for you, I wouldn't eat one of those. After all, you never know where his hands might have been!” (sound of running footsteps)
Sister Mary Olga:



“Sigh! Hi Randy!”
Randy Cowboy:


“Hey, Sister, who was that?”


Sister Mary Olga:


“Honey, you don't want to know! When I used to believe in them, I might have called her a demon. Instead I realize she's just a scared little girl. Now! Let's change to a gayer note and let me have one of those cookies! They look scrumptious!”


Start your day off with some laughter and purchase a copy of the book today of "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude"

Hope you enjoy!

Friday, October 7, 2011

"The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude": David Cowdery aka Davis Aujourd'hui- Thursday, October 27th

Posted by April Villarose-Matta on October 6, 2011 at 9:47am in The RAW FACTOR






Are you ready for a class in Advanced Holiness for people from all walks of life? Then, perhaps you're ready to take a trip to the Have A Heart convent in Bucksnort, Wisconsin. There, you'll meet a nun you're not likely to forget - Sister Mary Olga Fortitude.The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude is a satire with a spiritual message, but there's a lot of hanky panky going on here. Sister Mary Olga is an irreverent nun who has some unique spiritual views that differ from those of the Pope. She's a great believer of "to each, one's own." She also loves her Marlboros and her bourbon. Just don't let the Reverend Mother in on her secret. The next class in Advanced Holiness may be canceled.

Here in Bucksnort, you'll meet a zany cast of all-too-human characters. There's a lot of secret-keeping going on here, but Sister Mary Olga will be sure to deliver the goods in order to provide you with good and bad examples of holiness.The Reverend Mother is a former prostitute. The convent's chef is a gay cowboy.Hilarious, laugh out loud, must read book!!

If you love humor and satire then this is the book for you.

I was put off a bit by the title and I am not real religious nor Catholic but I decided, what the heck, I will give this book a chance as I like to discover new authors.

"The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" is a book told in the viewpoint of 65 year old Sister Mary Olga Fortitude who resides at the Have a Heart Convent where she teachesvarious religious classes.

At each class she tells a story about a different resident of Bucksnort Wisconsin. Also at this convent is Father Cowberries, a priest with a passion for 'the drink' and Mother Superior Carmen Burana, who was a prostitute in a former life..

Sister Mary Olga shares the Father's passion for drink, she also loves her cigarettes, but of course she tends to clash with the Mother. A lot of the story tells us the ingenious ways she finds to slake her thirst for these vices ie. the four hole outhouse and the crucifix.

The descriptions of the townsfolk and their names, Diddles Dinkledorf and Fartley Dinkledorf alone are enough to have you laughing.Put all the zany characters and their foibles together makes for a hilarious story. I found myself laughing out loud at most of the book.

You absolutely have to read this book if you enjoy in your face humor. You don't have to be religious or Catholic to enjoy this book!! I highly recommend it.


"Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude," I have already completed nine other books in the series and I plan to keep them coming. The next books to be released will be "Babes in Bucksnort," followed by "Have A Heart."


I am a new author, yet I possess a rich life experience that has enabled me to draw from it in order to create a colorful canvas upon which to paint very human lives. I am a retired social worker, having worked for Adult Protective Services in New York State for nearly twenty years.

As will be the case with Sister Mary Olga in my third book, I am a recovering alcoholic. I also happen to be gay as are several of the endearing and humorous characters within my novels. I can speak from my own experience. I have possessed all of the foibles of my cast of characters who are naughty, nasty, and nice.

I have also written my autobiography which is about a gay man's spiritual journey toward recovery from multiple addictions and mental illness. The title of my autobiography is "King David" and I hope to have that published at some point in the near future.

I live in Upstate New York where I am currently sharing my life with my partner of nearly five years. We are both socially-minded and our spirituality is the most important ingredient which empowers us to maintain a happy and abundant life. We belong to a transdenominational church which embraces the sacred truths of all religions, especially the teachings of Jesus. This has been a natural outcome from my lifetime search for the meaning of God. It embraces my belief that all people are equally loved in God's eyes.

Author Davis Aujourd'hui