Modern moms are in over their heads. According to "The Today Show," iVillage and MSNBC, it takes more than a village to raise a family - it takes a "Momtourage." In a trend marked by multiplying play groups, Bunko groups, stitching circles and book clubs, moms are uniting through common hobbies to find companionship and emotional support.
In fact, a recent survey by the Craft & Hobby Association says scrapbooking moms have bonded to the tune of a now $2.5 billion industry. The flourishing industry has spawned scrapbook-centric clubs, conventions, retreats, TV shows, books - even themed cruises on the Queen Mary 2.
Rebeca is an avid scrapper, momtourage mobilizer and the author of the "Sisters Ink," novels. She knows first-hand how important girlfriends are to a woman's stability, but in the often isolating world of motherhood, she also knows how difficult it is to find them. Seitz discovered the power of female networks after finding out about her first husband's infidelity. Her girlfriends rallied around her and today, she is remarried and the mother of two.
Today, she relies on scrapbooking as a social outlet and the glue that keeps her momtourage together. She brings women together through scrapping, around her kitchen table and in her online community, Sisters Ink.net, a digital craft circle for scrappers looking to connect regionally.
Momtourage 101
For moms looking to establish a momtourage, Rebeca offers five steps for getting started.
1. First, identify a common thread. Motherhood? Love of scrapbooking, books, sewing? Obsession with chocolate or coffee?
2. Carve out a space in your home like a spare room or game room where girlfriends can join you in your craft, or secure a space at a public facility like a library or community center.
3. Establish a schedule and take turns hosting, or determine to schedule each consecutive meeting at the current meeting.
4. Connect. Make certain your time together allows for the most important thing - conversation!
5. Stick with it. Remind each other that you are better moms, wives, daughters, women because you're connecting with other women. No need for guilt!
The newest book , "Coming Unglued" (B&H Fiction, July 2008), is the second book in the series of humorous contemporary fiction set against the backdrop of scrapbooking. It illustrates the power of friendship and speaks of infidelity from the perspective of the "other woman." The third installment, "Scrapping Plans" will release spring 2009.
In addition to her own literary work, Rebeca is founder and president of Glass Road Public Relations and Glass Slipper Productions, an event planning agency. She and her husband reside in Fulton, Ky. When she is not writing or working with clients, she can be found in her scrapbook studio or renovating their 109-year old home as they make room for their second child. For more information, please visit www.sistersink.net.
About Rebeca Seitz
Author of the Coming Unglued, a "Sisters, Ink" novel
Like many women in corporate America, Rebeca Seitz faced a tough decision when she had her first child: homemaker or working mom? Today, many say she has mastered the politics of motherhood -- she chose both.
In the heated so-called "mommy wars" debate, covered by major media like The Washington Post, ABC News and CNN in which working moms and full-time homemakers are pitted against each other, Rebeca can identify with both. She offices as a literary publicist and president of a flourishing literary public relations firm at home where she also offices as mother, wife, novelist and household breadwinner.
In addition to her work-home balancing act, Rebeca is the founder of SistersInk.net, a popular social networking site for scrapbookers looking to connect. Rebeca joins 26 million American women who scrapbook to capture fleeting family milestones, many of whom can relate to the juggling act of a career and motherhood.
Rebeca's latest book, "Coming Unglued," is the second in the only line of novels with a scrapbooking theme. The series, "Sisters, Ink," includes humorous works of contemporary fiction set against the backdrop of scrapbooking and chronicles the often-complicated lives of four multi-cultural, adopted sisters.
Following her first novel, Prints Charming (Westbow Press, 2006), Rebeca launched Sisters, Ink (B&H Publishing, 2007), the first book in the series of the same name. Coming Unglued (July 2008) follows Kendra, the African-American sister, as she struggles with the boundaries of fidelity and the sisters fight to love her through it. Although her characters are fictional, her message is deeply personal. Rebeca knows first-hand the pain of infidelity from her first marriage and draws on her own experience with betrayal to show how friendship, faith and hobby helped her heal. Her next book, "Scrapping Plans," hits shelves next February.
Off-the-clock, Rebeca serves as the women's ministry director at First Baptist Church of Fulton, Ky., and is a sought-after speaker at Kentucky Baptist Convention events. She received a bachelor's in communications and political science from the University of Tennessee at Martin and is currently pursing a master's in mass communications from Murray State University.
Before launching Glass Road Public Relations, Rebeca wore a variety of corporate hats: legal secretary, ad agency account executive, realtor, editor, financial clerk, non-profit spokesperson, weekend caretaker for an at-risk foster child and media fellow for family research council in Washington, D.C. She has also held positions as a staff-member at an Orlando mega-church, House of Representatives clerk, asset manager, and the first publicist for WestBow Press, the former fiction division of Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Rebeca's public relations firm is the only one in the country dedicated solely to representing works of entertainment (books, music, movies) created from a Christian worldview. She also owns and operates Glass Slipper Productions, an event planning agency.
Rebeca and her husband reside in Fulton, Ky. When she is not writing or working with clients, she can be found in her scrapbook studio or renovating their 109-year old home as they make room for their second child. For more information, please visit www.sistersink.net.
Buy It ~
Sisters, Ink (Scrapbooker's Series #1)
Coming Unglued (Scrapbooker's Series #2)
~ Amazon states this is the third book, that is wrong.Win It ~
I have one copy of Coming Unglued to giveaway to one of my readers. Leave a comment letting me know what you think of creating a momtourage for yourself or if you already have one.
Extra Entries ~
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Contest will end May 5th 11:59pm
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