The publishing company name, Chas’ HotBooks, came from this description of my writing:

Helpful,
Out-of-the-ordinary,
Thought-provoking
Books and more.

Privacy Policy: We do not share, sell, rent or otherwise abuse your name, e-mail address or anything else about you with anyone else.

Custom Poems Are Back!

After dozens of recent requests, we have put Chas’ Custom Poems back into the mix of products on this Web site. Three new samples are up on the Custom Poems page. Two are birthday poems for friends, one rhyming and one that doesn’t rhyme. The third is Chas’ celebration of being back in Washington, where her heart (and her lungs) are very happy.

All three of these poems are illustrated with Chas’ photographs.

If you want unique gifts for friends, family or company purposes, consider having Chas write poems for you — illustrated or not, poignant or silly or anywhere between, written to your specifications. See the samples and more information at Custom Poems. The page may load slowly, as we wanted the poems to be large enough for you to read the words.

Maggie — August 22, 2009

We will eventually put back the direct PayPal links for our books, poems and calendars, and add new ones for the postcards, greeting cards and new e-books that are in the works. Until then, please e-mail Chas for ordering information.
Thank you for your patience with our abundance of caution since we started receiving disturbing e-mails from customers of a different site with which they have had disagreements. I appreciate your many notes of support.

Chas Ridley — August 15, 2009

Living ...
What could be more important than living? Really living, feeling alive in every moment?
     Each of us lives our own kind of life, and some bring a unique perspective that speaks to others. People tell me my life and my way of writing inspire them and offer them optional ways of living beyond obstacles. They say that by looking at my unique way of living they have been encouraged to see their own lives differently. That they become even more of who they truly are.
     I would love to do the same for you.
     Please make yourself at home here, wander freely. Along with the books, we offer newsletters and occasional workshops, custom poems and mention of other Web sites you might enjoy. We enjoyed the companionship of the GoodGrief Community that was begun in 1999 because certain people felt that they could learn from my ability to live beyond the grief that struck our family in 1992. The GoodGrief mailing list is presently on hiatus. After seven years, I needed a break. I’ve been asked when the list will be available again, and I don’t know. I hope sometime this year.

I am also available as a writing coach, editor or reviewer. Please e-mail me to discuss your needs. People find my matter-of-fact yet tangential way of looking at things helpful to their writing projects, and I enjoy being able to share the options I see. As a freelance writer/editor for many years, I am both quick and very particular. My editing experience includes work in business, education, legal, health, self-help, Web sites (not HTML, just English), fiction, nonfiction, articles and the occasional love letter.

Hope to ‘see’ you again soon!

Chas