June 5, 2020: At-home profile: Lampasas resident was already homebound before pandemic started | Coronavirus | kdhnews.com
Spending all her time mostly alone in her Lampasas apartment — except for daily visits by caregivers — she considers herself pretty safe from the virus, and also from the increasing panic and mayhem she sees on the news and social media.
“I haven’t been scared of the virus,” Alter said. “I deal with a number of health issues already, and I was subscribing to a bunch of newsletters from different doctors, who all say the same thing — if you have a healthy immune system, the virus is not going to affect you. It affects people who smoke, who are obese, have other health problems, so I just flat out don’t worry about it.
“I also saw the data with how many people have died from COVID compared to the number of people who have died from flu, homelessness, and a whole bunch of other things. Maybe the shutdown was necessary, but I don’t think it was necessary at all.
“The biggest pandemic of all going on right now is fear — and it’s fear and anxiety that will get people sick. Not the flu; not COVID. Fear and anxiety.
“It’s pathetic, what’s going on right now. There are crazy people competing for what’s in the stores, because they’re panicking. Some of these crazy people have guns. I’m not worried about COVID; I’m worried about the crazy people.
“I stay clear of all those people — not because of COVID, but because of what they’re doing.”
A native of Swampscott, Mass., near Boston, 64-year-old Alter has been in Lampasas since November 2006. She used to be active in a number of different organizations and activities, including Killeen Toastmasters, the Central Texas Writers Society, First Friday – Art after Dark, just to name a few, and has published a number of books about health and wellness, and physical challenges she has faced over the years.
To see more about her books and her blog, go to: http://www.reneealtersatmosphere.com/.
During the pandemic, she has been keeping tabs on her family, spread out across several states, including a brother who is a glass blower in Vermont. His wife works at a university lab that has been conducting research on COVID-19, although Alter doesn’t know any details about that.
One sister lives in Washington, and is married to a county park ranger. They live with two daughters, one in college and one a recent high school graduate, in a cabin in the middle of the park. Her son, Jesse, 36, is a BMW service advisor at a car dealership in Orange County, Calif. He is married and has a 7-year-old daughter. All are doing fine, she says.
BOOK REVIEWS for Love, Life, & God
Renee has an amazing story of hope and triumph. Read this inspiring book and discover that it is indeed possible to transform a life of pain and heartache into one of joy and happiness.
[I wasn't one of the finalists in the Writer's Digest Self-Publishing contest, but I did get a great review from the judge who read my book (Love, Life, & God: Getting Past the Pain)]:
“The biggest pandemic of all going on right now is fear — and it’s fear and anxiety that will get people sick. Not the flu; not COVID. Fear and anxiety.
“It’s pathetic, what’s going on right now. There are crazy people competing for what’s in the stores, because they’re panicking. Some of these crazy people have guns. I’m not worried about COVID; I’m worried about the crazy people.
“I stay clear of all those people — not because of COVID, but because of what they’re doing.”
A native of Swampscott, Mass., near Boston, 64-year-old Alter has been in Lampasas since November 2006. She used to be active in a number of different organizations and activities, including Killeen Toastmasters, the Central Texas Writers Society, First Friday – Art after Dark, just to name a few, and has published a number of books about health and wellness, and physical challenges she has faced over the years.
To see more about her books and her blog, go to: http://www.reneealtersatmosphere.com/.
During the pandemic, she has been keeping tabs on her family, spread out across several states, including a brother who is a glass blower in Vermont. His wife works at a university lab that has been conducting research on COVID-19, although Alter doesn’t know any details about that.
One sister lives in Washington, and is married to a county park ranger. They live with two daughters, one in college and one a recent high school graduate, in a cabin in the middle of the park. Her son, Jesse, 36, is a BMW service advisor at a car dealership in Orange County, Calif. He is married and has a 7-year-old daughter. All are doing fine, she says.
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BOOK REVIEWS for Love, Life, & God
John Clark
June 21, 2014: Book Review on Nonfiction Reads
Let me say up front, I have never before written a book review, but I’m about to give you a two-fer. I met this author, Renee Alter, quite incidentally when she was acting as a volunteer worker in the Lampasas, Texas visitors center. I had stopped in that city to do some casual photography and needed some information of the area. I would have never guessed at what would follow the brief visit with the vivacious lady sitting behind the desk. In a short time, I learned she was a published author, a budding photographer, a musician, and a songwriter. A lot of talent in a small package. But looking into her pretty eyes and at her sweet face, who could ever know the terrors and pain hiding behind her smile? I was soon to find out. This review pertains to two of her books – Appearances and Love, Life, & God. To read only one of the two would be like leaving the proverbial glass half full (or half empty) as the case may be. Even though each book stands on its own merits, I strongly suggest the reader not stop at just one. Appearances rather sets the stage for what is to come in Love, Live, & God, so by the time you’ve read them both you will have traveled with her through many years of her life as she shares the horror she faced, the hurts she endured, the disappointments which befell her, the betrayals thrust upon her, and the mental crashes she experienced. But fortunately, there’s an upside to all those pitfalls in her life. As the reader journeys through the years with her, Alter eventually claws her way out of the muck and mire in which she’s been existing to finally arrive at a point where she can see the sunshine, hear the birds sing, and relish the sight of a rainbow. She finally realizes she is a child – a child of God. So, go with her on her perilous journey, take her hand in your heart and share also the joy she now has. Let me make one point clear, these are not preachy books in any stretch of the imagination. They just tell it like it was. Life still continues to present unpleasant hurdles to her, but she will overcome with your help by ordering both Appearances AND Love, Life, & God.
Ken Nichols, Retired US Navy Photojournalist
If you've had a lot of turmoil (aka adventure) in your life, along with numerous health challenges, this book may be for you! This book is a narrative of the many hardships this woman has experienced (a memoir). She entertains the reader with her life stories... places she had lived, people who have passed through her life - and animal stories, too. She begins to find multiple ways to shift her cognitive view of the world, which results in a transformation of herself, and her life. There is victory at the end of this book as her journey leads to her ability to create a meaningful life for herself, and enables her to deal with her physical challenges in a much healthier way. I think everyone's life is a journey, and everyone has a story to tell. It is inspiring when someone makes their 'ordinary' life - 'extraordinary'. Ms. Alter demonstrates by example, how one can begin to look at the long-held beliefs behind their problems, and take that journey to a better life. Auriel.
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Love, Life & God is a collection of the author's personal life experiences, interspersed with poems and occasional song lyrics. It's written in a chronological memoir style with a great deal of detail in the names, times, and places recollected in the stories. The level of detail suggests that Alter had been painstakingly recording her experiences over the course of many years, as opposed to simply recalling events when she sat down to write a book.
A substantial portion of this book focuses on Alter's health challenges, which are extensive. She describes how they all came about, how they evolved, and the measures she and her doctors took to address them. Those measures include myriad prescription drugs, which she discusses as alternately helpful and harmful. Throughout all these circumstances, she makes an attempt to show how God was looking out for her or teaching her or guiding her. In that way, the book has an emphasis on spirituality.
There are many books out there that detail authors' struggles with all manner of ailments, including cancer, drug addiction, and mental illness. Frankly, this reviewer doesn't usually have much interest in those types of books. I get the impression that they're primarily cathartic exercises designed to help the authors work out their own personal demons, which is fine.
The place where Alter's book shines is in the chapters where she temporarily forgets her various ailments (and allows the reader to forget them, too) and concentrates on telling stories about people she's encountered throughout her life. She describes many fascinating individuals who lead unusual lives. For instance, Allen lives in the country, keeps chickens, feeds zillions of cats, and works a newspaper route to support himself. Alter offers vivid descriptions of her life with Allen, including funny and informative details about chicken behavior and how someone can feed and care for that many cats. Their concern for all those animals was touching.
This book is a mixed bag. I was depressed by parts (chronic illness) but enjoyed other parts (chickens giving themselves dirt baths). Overall, the message that potential readers should get from this review is "Enter at your own risk." Which, by the way, is also the message that should be posted at the entrance to Allen's chicken/cat farm.
A substantial portion of this book focuses on Alter's health challenges, which are extensive. She describes how they all came about, how they evolved, and the measures she and her doctors took to address them. Those measures include myriad prescription drugs, which she discusses as alternately helpful and harmful. Throughout all these circumstances, she makes an attempt to show how God was looking out for her or teaching her or guiding her. In that way, the book has an emphasis on spirituality.
There are many books out there that detail authors' struggles with all manner of ailments, including cancer, drug addiction, and mental illness. Frankly, this reviewer doesn't usually have much interest in those types of books. I get the impression that they're primarily cathartic exercises designed to help the authors work out their own personal demons, which is fine.
The place where Alter's book shines is in the chapters where she temporarily forgets her various ailments (and allows the reader to forget them, too) and concentrates on telling stories about people she's encountered throughout her life. She describes many fascinating individuals who lead unusual lives. For instance, Allen lives in the country, keeps chickens, feeds zillions of cats, and works a newspaper route to support himself. Alter offers vivid descriptions of her life with Allen, including funny and informative details about chicken behavior and how someone can feed and care for that many cats. Their concern for all those animals was touching.
This book is a mixed bag. I was depressed by parts (chronic illness) but enjoyed other parts (chickens giving themselves dirt baths). Overall, the message that potential readers should get from this review is "Enter at your own risk." Which, by the way, is also the message that should be posted at the entrance to Allen's chicken/cat farm.
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WRITER'S DIGEST 23RD ANNUAL
WRITER'S DIGEST 23RD ANNUAL
SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK AWARDS
(NOVEMBER 13, 2015)
[I wasn't one of the finalists in the Writer's Digest Self-Publishing contest, but I did get a great review from the judge who read my book (Love, Life, & God: Getting Past the Pain)]:
"I really liked the fact that the author was willing to be so candid about her physical and emotional challenges in this journey toward transformation. While many memoirs have that honest quality, this one even presented the author occasionally in a negative or non-positive light. Still, her voice didn’t waiver. I think the details of her battle with depression, addiction, peaks and valleys of recovery and her faith all meld fairly well. I especially liked the variety of voices in this memoir. The author uses poems, song lyrics and “conversations” with various non-physical entitles, including the spirit of her father and her own pain. This technique offers variety and makes the narrative less monotone. The author’s search for effective therapies, not always the conventional ones, also help give this memoir a value to readers who do not know her in their personal world. I liked the appendices, some of which offer interesting insight into the author’s personality, such as her list of her favorite Facebook pages. And her persona First Aid Kit is imminently pragmatic, offering support for anyone who is suffering a chronic illness, physical or mental, and experiencing intrusive treatment or therapy." Judge, 23rd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.
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Copperas Cove Leader-Press: March 29, 2011, Page 3 by Azeita Taylor
The Copperas Cove public library has held several events and used many programs to promote itself, and the library director aspires to expand on that vision.
At least once a month, sometimes two, the local library brings in guest speakers and has book signings to help promote the library and the speakers themselves. Library Director Margaret Handrow said she feels the programs are working.
"It is something that we'd like to expand on," said Handrow. Just recently, the library held a book signing and asked Renee Alter to speak to the Friends of the Library organization.
Alter is the author of "Appearances," a book about her life experiences, how she learned she is not a victim and her journey of self-discovery. She spoke to the audience about choices she's made in her life and struggles she's had due to several illnesses, Fibromyalgia being one of them. Alter recited some of her poetry from her CD series "Toolbox of Poetry: Love, Life, and God."
She also spoke about her journey with God and his guiding hand in her life and about personal gifts she feels God gives everyone to use.
"So, my beautiful people, what gifts have you been given that you are supposed to be sharing with the world?"
Alter said there was one thing she learned, in particular, during her life's journey and that was, she is strong.
"I learned I was stronger than I thought I was and could do more than I ever thought I could," Alter said.
Alter is a blogger on blogger.com and has an email newsletter, under Pebbles in the Sand Ministries. (Note: This has been discontinued since this article was published.)
Alter said the sequel to her book "Appearances" is in the process of being written and may be titled, "Fibromyalgia: A Journey For A Season, Not A Life Sentence." (Note: Two sequels have been published but not with this title. Love, Life, & God: Getting Past the Pain and Living With Symptomatic Spondylolisthesis: A Survival Guide.)
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Lampasas Dispatch Record: Friday, November 21, 2014, Pg 3
Renee Alter moved to Texas from California November 2006 -- one of more than 40 moves she has made. If you ask her what her passion is in life, she will tell you: "sharing and making a difference".
Miss Alter hopes that the wisdom she has gained from her life adventures will benefit others who are struggling.
The local author has now published her sixth book, "Creating a Meaningful Life After Disability: (Posts From My Blog), " and is working to assist others in getting books they've dreamed of writing into print.
A book-signing is scheduled Dec. 1 p.m. at the Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce, where Miss Alter volunteers. She also will be available to answer questions about self-publishing, for those interested.
Miss Alter's first book "Appearances: A Journey of Self-Discovery" evolved when she sat down to write her life story at the age of 40. She had left her then abusive husband and a job with an abusive boss, and she started from scratch as a single parent looking for new employment and a place to live.
"The day after I started writing, I woke up each morning for two weeks with a clear picture of a topic to write about that day," Miss Alter said.
With each topic, she included examples of her life experiences along with the new wisdom she learned from those. And with each chapter, she included one of her many poems.
Some 15 years later, Miss Alter was encouraged by a friend to write a book with just poetry, so she created "Reflections: A Toolbox of Poetry".
Her third volume came about when Miss Alter learned about a self-publishing contest that required a minimum of 50,000 words. She had a draft explaining how she had ended up living in Texas, but the first draft was only 30,000 words.
Miss Alter began to collect letters she had written home to her parents, emails she had sent to friends and short stories she had written, and she proceeded to collate the material by date. She also included verses to songs she had written relating to what she was experiencing at the time -- reaching the goal of 50,000 words and beyond.
The title of that book became "Love, Life, & God: Getting Past the Pain," which represents her conclusion summarized in four parts. "Love" represents relationships she had been involved with until finally she learned a new kind of love. "Life" represents her life experiences, places she lived, people she met, and even cats she had known. "God" represents her spiritual experience and finally finding her way back to God.
"Getting Past the Pain" represents finding home here in Lampasas after 43 moves, and the cognitive shift that has enabled her to live with her 'abilities' rather than 'disabilities' to create a meaningful life.
When I moved here, I was wheelchair-dependent because I had an accident the year before I moved [to Lampasas], Miss Alter said. My legs went to sleep and wouldn't wake up. It was supposedly permanent.
"Four years ago, I was schedule for major back surgery that involved putting rods and screws in my lower back ... but the day before surgery the surgeon decided to enlarge my x-rays to check the density of my spine. The vertebrae were too porous to hold screws, so the surgery was canceled.
"I've made an amazing, unexpected recovery with the help of my chiropractor ... and you now see me walking all over town and enjoying all the local events," Miss Alter said.
A fourth book was penned when Miss Alter learned she was to become a grandmother. She decided to write a letter to her son about becoming a parent and create a book for him. It became "Be Prepared ... (for parenthood)."
Miss Alter later was encouraged to write a little book with just her cat stories. She also experimented with photos of the cats she wrote about. Her fifth book became "View From A Tree."
And most recently, Miss Alter has copied all her posts from the blog she started in 2011 to develop her book "Creating a Meaningful Life After Disability."
In addition, she hopes to have her songs professionally recorded and made available to her readers.
Meanwhile, Miss Alter has been meeting other people who have stories to tell and books they want to write. And she enjoys encouraging them to complete their project, sharing what she has learned about the process.
Miss Alter hopes that the wisdom she has gained from her life adventures will benefit others who are struggling.
The local author has now published her sixth book, "Creating a Meaningful Life After Disability: (Posts From My Blog), " and is working to assist others in getting books they've dreamed of writing into print.
A book-signing is scheduled Dec. 1 p.m. at the Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce, where Miss Alter volunteers. She also will be available to answer questions about self-publishing, for those interested.
Miss Alter's first book "Appearances: A Journey of Self-Discovery" evolved when she sat down to write her life story at the age of 40. She had left her then abusive husband and a job with an abusive boss, and she started from scratch as a single parent looking for new employment and a place to live.
"The day after I started writing, I woke up each morning for two weeks with a clear picture of a topic to write about that day," Miss Alter said.
With each topic, she included examples of her life experiences along with the new wisdom she learned from those. And with each chapter, she included one of her many poems.
Some 15 years later, Miss Alter was encouraged by a friend to write a book with just poetry, so she created "Reflections: A Toolbox of Poetry".
Her third volume came about when Miss Alter learned about a self-publishing contest that required a minimum of 50,000 words. She had a draft explaining how she had ended up living in Texas, but the first draft was only 30,000 words.
Miss Alter began to collect letters she had written home to her parents, emails she had sent to friends and short stories she had written, and she proceeded to collate the material by date. She also included verses to songs she had written relating to what she was experiencing at the time -- reaching the goal of 50,000 words and beyond.
The title of that book became "Love, Life, & God: Getting Past the Pain," which represents her conclusion summarized in four parts. "Love" represents relationships she had been involved with until finally she learned a new kind of love. "Life" represents her life experiences, places she lived, people she met, and even cats she had known. "God" represents her spiritual experience and finally finding her way back to God.
"Getting Past the Pain" represents finding home here in Lampasas after 43 moves, and the cognitive shift that has enabled her to live with her 'abilities' rather than 'disabilities' to create a meaningful life.
When I moved here, I was wheelchair-dependent because I had an accident the year before I moved [to Lampasas], Miss Alter said. My legs went to sleep and wouldn't wake up. It was supposedly permanent.
"Four years ago, I was schedule for major back surgery that involved putting rods and screws in my lower back ... but the day before surgery the surgeon decided to enlarge my x-rays to check the density of my spine. The vertebrae were too porous to hold screws, so the surgery was canceled.
"I've made an amazing, unexpected recovery with the help of my chiropractor ... and you now see me walking all over town and enjoying all the local events," Miss Alter said.
A fourth book was penned when Miss Alter learned she was to become a grandmother. She decided to write a letter to her son about becoming a parent and create a book for him. It became "Be Prepared ... (for parenthood)."
Miss Alter later was encouraged to write a little book with just her cat stories. She also experimented with photos of the cats she wrote about. Her fifth book became "View From A Tree."
And most recently, Miss Alter has copied all her posts from the blog she started in 2011 to develop her book "Creating a Meaningful Life After Disability."
In addition, she hopes to have her songs professionally recorded and made available to her readers.
Meanwhile, Miss Alter has been meeting other people who have stories to tell and books they want to write. And she enjoys encouraging them to complete their project, sharing what she has learned about the process.
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October 6, 2015 by Prisilla Mac of Fort Hood.
This event was 1st Friday at Frames & Things in
Copperas Cove, TX
Copperas Cove, TX
Posted on her Media Page on Facebook
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October 22, 2015 Book Trailer on YouTube for Love, Life, & God: Getting Past the Pain
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January 26, 2016 Front Page of Lampasas Dispatch
Photo at Local Author Fest held January 23.
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January 26, 2016 Front Page of Lampasas Dispatch
Photo at Local Author Fest held January 23.
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Book Reviews
Living With Symptomatic Spondylolisthesis
I love that you have a nice balance of sharing your personal story and tying in tools that you have used and how others can use them! Much of the terminology I recognize so I am ready to understand your chapters! (Like FEAR and ANTS etc.) Francie Dailer
As far as I can find, at this time, Renee Alter's book is the only book published that is a personal account of living with Spondylolisthesis. I'm grateful for her personal insights and have returned to the book often for her writing on resilience, managing fear, and cognitive behavior. -B. Borden
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Book Review
On the Move: Autobiography of a Survivor
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Book Review
My Quest for Healing
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Book Review
We Want to Be in a Story
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