ANDREA REYNOLDS

.... a rare opportunity to show yourself publicly as a Good Samaritan or HERO.

Sadly, many choose to be villains even when given a second chance to redeem themselves.

Will you choose kindness over mean-spiritedness, and generosity over greed?

Or will you do what many choose to do....work against their own best interests?

Remember: It's all material for my next book, The Kindness Experiment.

Contact Info | Feedback form


Andrea Reynolds, Author, Speaker, Kindness Activist

12 Ways you can be my Hero as I write....

A. Help me earn a living again after 13 years of poverty due to death threats, stalking, terror, PTSD, hiding from harm, harassment, character assassination, intimidation, discrimination, alienation, vandalism, property theft, bullying, and denial of constitutional rights:

1. Invite me to speak to your group, conference, meeting, or class.

2. Order a prepaid copy of The Kindness Experiment so I can get it written and published without increasing my debt load.

3. Retain me as your Undercover Client-Patient-Guest to tell you what your patients, clients, guests, association members won't. (For Physicians, lawyers, dentists, chiropractors, veterinarians, realtors, etc.)

4. Give me a paying assignment to write a column for your magazine on The Benefits of Kindness and/or Overcoming Self-Sabotage, and/or Resolving Crises.

5. Ask me to write a regular (paid) advice column for your newspaper on The Benefits of Kindness and/or Overcoming Self-Sabotage, and/or Resolving Crises.

6. Invite me to host a call-in radio advice show on The Benefits of Kindness and/or Overcoming Self-Sabotage, and/or Resolving Crises.

7. Invite me to housesit for you in your absence... without charge.

B. Compensate me for any of the following that may apply to you (I'll be contacting you):

8. Pay me for the work I did for you in the past that you didn't pay for, plus interest.

9. Refund my money for work you didn't do or did so poorly that I had to pay others to fix the damage you caused.

10. Reverse the financial penalties you charged me with that are not my responsibility.

11. Reimburse me for the financial losses I incurred because I was a good citizen.... or because you broke the law or were negligent.

12. Pay me fairly for intellectual property you knowingly stole from me.

FYI, As of August 30, 2010, I'm no longer providing the following:

1. Marketing, Positioning, and Visibility Campaigns for authors, speakers, experts. (I will be my sole client.)

2. Speaker and book contract negotiations. (I will be my sole client.)

3. Book editing and proofreading for other authors.

4. Speaker representation. (I will be my sole client.)

5. Marketing strategies and advice for professionals, consultants, practitioners. (I will be my sole client.)

6. Selling my seminar manuals as e-books at a discount, or to those who do not attend my seminars but use the materials to teach from without paying me for a license to use my proprietary information.

7. Commercial voice-work without payment of royalties or residuals.

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My starting-over money goals (one by one, in order of priority):
1. $50,000 to cover remaining debts.
2. $25,000 assets required by Canadian Immigration to return to Canada.
3. $15,000 emergency fund.
4. $50,000 down payment on a home.
5. $1,500,000 retirement fund.
6. $1,500,000 foundation to assist writers forbidden to write, speak, publish, consult (as I was).

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I've been quoted in these publications for my work and ideas:
Time
Entrepreneur
USA Today
Financial Post
National Post
Globe and Mail
Toronto Star
Toronto Sun
Hamilton Spectator
Canadian Business
Canadian Living
Rocky Mountain Times
Las Vegas Review
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Jamestown Post-Journal
Erie Times
Korea Times
Dagbladet Børsen
Skyword
Successful Owner-Manager
Sales & Marketing Management

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This web site was banned by the board of directors and property manager of Geneva on the Park Condominiums in St. Catharines Ontario... because we all know only men should publish web sites. Right?

I'll look after your home or business in your absence at no charge.

I like to live in other people's homes when they are away.. but only by invitation!
By house-sitting and caretaking full-time I can save money by not having rent to pay.
Preferred locations: Toronto and Niagara Region, Ontario, Erie and northwestern Pennsylvania.

My profile on Housecarers.com | Pet care | Household Tasks | Cooking

I have been hired to singlehandedly host and manage 5 Bed and Breakfast businesses (Aberdeen House in Toronto was one) and an Interior Decorating firm (Today's Interiors in Erie) so they could continue to earn income while the owners are on vacation. See below for REFERENCES from guests at my own Author's Bed and Breakfast.

Author's Bed and Breakfast, Toronto,
Andrea Reynolds, Proprietor.
Interview published in the Quill & Quire supplement for
The Canadian Bookseller Association Convention
In the photo, Andrea is the one standing.

Below: More than you'd ever want to know about me.

More about my pet care services: www.AndreaReynolds.com/pets.html

Email me Tell me where you are, when you'd like me to arrive, and a little about you and your pets. I'll be adding a page later with a few questions to make it easier to respond.

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REFERENCES: Below are some comments from respected people who stayed at my AUTHOR'S BED AND BREAKFAST IN TORONTO. While I have no intention to ever host my own bed and breakfast business again, the recommendations do indicate that I maintain a home well...

A pleasure to meet you! What a nice change from sterile and lonely hotels. Thanks for the hospitality and stimulating conversation. I'll be back.... Darwin Wiggett, Canadian landscape photographer and author, www.DarwinWiggett.com

Dear Andrea, This was a haven in a stormy sea. I do hope I can come again. Carolyn Swayze, literary agent, White Rock BC.

Dear Andrea, thank you for making this over-stimulating week homey and balanced. You are a wonderful host. I'm sure I'll be back. Good luck. Loranne Brown, author, The Handless Maiden, Langley BC.

Andrea, Had a great time. Your help and conversation really put us at ease and enabled us to get the most out of our stay. A wonderfully "homey" atmosphere in a wonderful city. If you're ever in the Atlanta area we'll return the favor. Don and Lynne Embler

Andrea, We're so glad we learned about you from our friends Judith and Joseph! It was delightful staying here and talking with you. We expect your B & B will be extremely successful. Your home is so comfortable and cheery and your hospitality is at the highest level. We can't wait to come back. Ingrid and Gary Watters, East Aurora NY

Dear Andrea, Thank you very much for making my stay in Toronto much more pleasant. The bed and breakfasts were excellent. The friendliness I had not booked so it was the more enjoyable. Daniel Griese, Mathematician, Berlin Germany


A comment from a client of my Handy Ande concierge services:

Ms. Reynolds came to my house & helped me re-organize my cupboards so it is easier to view what is in them. She also gave me many helpful suggestions to make my apartment more homey while I live here. Ms. Reynolds drove me & my infant daughter to run some errands, which was very helpful as I do not have transportation. I really enjoyed the company that Andrea also provided me with, that to me meant more than anything. Also, Andrea was kind enough to pick up a VCR from a Freecycle member and deliver the day she arrived. Andrea is very kind, polite, knowledgable, and very helpful. I highly recomend her services to others. Kk Swanson, Corry PA March 12, 2010

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Details, details, details

I'm a strong and agile, single 61 year old (July 1949) female with no children, so I give my love and attention to animals, preferably cats, but well-trained dogs are a delight too.  I'm also kind-hearted, smart, and keep a cool head in an emergency. I'm also frugal, environmentally conscious, and quiet. Below you will see multiple reasons why you might want to choose me as your pet and house-sitter.

THE KINDNESS-MOBILE
After selling my condo in St. Catharines Ontario and completing my apartment lease in Erie Pennsylvania I am now free to travel at the drop of a hat in my outfitted van. I have everything I need inside to live and work in a very small space. Between housesitting assignments I driveway-surf (I coined this term) where I'm invited to park on people's property and borrow(pay for) some electricity and water. I write a blog on Driveway Surfing. So, while I don't need a housesitting assignment, it would just be a bonus.

BACKGROUND
My first language is English; and my French and Spanish are very rusty, but were passable when I hosted guests from Quebec, France and Spain at my bed & breakfast. Because of my attempt to speak Spanish I was able to sell my condo to a Chilean couple in 2008. For a new assignment I will gladly brush up on either language.  I graduated from Kent State University in Home Economics/Fashion and Marketing and Communication. (I was on campus during the shooting in 1970.) I also studied at Hiram College (Ohio), Edinboro University (Penna), Ryerson University and University of Toronto (Ontario), and Oxford University (UK). I like to keep a clear head: I don't drink, smoke or do any recreational drugs.

CITIZENSHIP
I carry a US passport and documents to prove I am a Permanent Resident of Canada. I keep bank accounts in both countries so I always have emergency funds for my own food and out-of-pocket expenses. My vehicle has Pennsylvania plates, but I also carry my old Ontario plates in case my housesitting assignment is long-term.  

MY CAT, CASPER
I had 3 cats, but two are gone and my remaining, all-white cat Casper is a neutered male, nearly 14 years old, but in good health.  Everyone who meets him, likes him. He is up-to-date on all shots, travels freely across the US-Canada border, has tested negative for infectious diseases, and has never had parasites or fleas. He and his brother were instrumental in saving my life when I had a break-in, so I'm keeping him with me and happy until it's his time to go. I know some pet owners don't want another animal in the house, but Casper does bring along his own big dog crate and fence where he can be isolated if that is required. If the weather is nice he can stay in the van.

"THE OLDER CAT"
Casper and his two (deceased) buddies Dickens and Jasper were featured in a how-to book for cat owners by Dan Poynter. My experiences with my cat's health issues provided tips for the readers who may be facing similar crises. (I also proofread the book for the author before publication.)

PET-SITTER SINCE 1976
My first house-pet sitting assignment was for a fellow teacher in Toronto. I spent the weekend looking after several pets. In the late 70's I was one of the original, bonded pet-sitters for a company in Toronto called House and Home Minders. The founder was Pat Norton. Most of my assignments were pet visits in the High Park and north central Toronto areas. (I'm not in Toronto presently so I'm not affiliated with the current company's management.)

I have house-sat for as many as 8 cats at one time (whew), and a variety of 8 pets at one time... but 1 or 2 pets works for me. I clean out boxes, walk the dogs, twice daily - more if necessary, do a lot of petting, cuddling, brushing, playing, talking, watering and feeding, checking each pet daily for any emerging health issues. I have discovered pets with conjunctivitis, urinary blockages, constipation, toothaches, and some with worms and parasites. I get them treated immediately.

HOUSE + BUSINESS SITTER SINCE 1992
Because of my studies in interior design - same as some HGTV hosts - I was invited to business-sit an interior design establishment in Erie PA. Soon after I began to fill in for vacationing bed and breakfast owners for a month at a time. I had back-to back assignments in mansions and Victorian homes in the city of Toronto, looking after guests so the owners could continue earning income in their absences. I even acted as temporary manager of the agency that handled all the bookings for 25 B & Bs. I was entrusted not only with their pets, homes and businesses, but also their income and financial affairs. I did their banking and kept good records.

FORMER B & B OWNER
Eventually I saved enough to launch my own B & B for authors on book tours. While my hosting may not be relevant to pet and house-sitting, it does go to show that I am a good manager, I maintain homes to be presentable on a daily business, and I am capable of handling any household emergency from frozen pipes to non-functioning appliances.

POLICE LIAISON
While serving on the Metro Toronto Community Police Liaison Committee I met with my local police constables on a weekly basis. One of the things I am most proud of was assisting police in catching and identifying the serial burglar who stole valuables from a dozen of my neighbors' homes, and stopped him from robbing anyone else. I also called in a house fire which I spotted from my apartment window... just 2 blocks from Maple Leaf Gardens. The house was saved because I acted promptly. In a city of over 3 million, mine was the only call to 9-1-1. I'm the person you want protecting your home and valuables.

For your safety and privacy, I don't disclose the address where I am staying to anyone nor the names of the homeowners. I use my own computer and email address, my own cell phone, and my own mailing address from which I can have mail forwarded to any local post office's "General Delivery."

"HANDY ANDE"
More recently I have been de-cluttering and organizing homes and offices, staging homes for greater profits and faster sales; and also showing property managers, service businesses and professional practices how to show more appreciation to their tenants, clients and patients. These are fee-based services but I can provide limited services as part of my house-sitting: fridge and kitchen cupboard organizing. Just ask. 

IMMERSION HOW-TO WRITER
Everything I write about comes from my own experiences. In addition to writing business books on independent consulting, column syndication, earning income as a speaker, raising project funding from private investors; I also have written booklets on thinking smarter, selling your home faster, having more creative dates and outings, outsmarting sweetheart swindlers, avoiding going-nowhere (and abusive) relationships, and asking the right questions before marrying. I pass along what I did, to save others time, money, energy and sometimes heartache.

"THE KINDNESS TEST"
The book I'm writing now is about all the kind and generous people I meet - over the past 14 years and now - and those I meet who would benefit from reading the book. It's about how some of us reject the blessings intended for us and act against our own best interests. I'm crowd-funding this book which means early buyers will share the profits of the book when it's published. Some of the homeowners I sit for may receive free "shares" in the book...my gift to those who invite me into their homes so I can write in comfort.

FORMER BUSINESS
For the better part of 32 years I owned a Personal Public Relations firm in Toronto. My clients: authors, consultants, physicians, dentists, lawyers. I multiplied their "fan base" and income level by generating TV + radio appearances and press interviews for them, booking them to speak, getting them book publishing contracts and column syndication contracts.

I also appeared as a guest expert on many Canadian radio and TV shows:
CFRB 1010 with Jane Hawtin, Bill Carroll, Alan Silverstein, etc.
640 AM with Bill Carroll
CBC "Morningside" with Peter Gzowski
CBC "Metro Morning"
CBC "Venture"
"Dini" with Dini Petty
"Eye on Toronto" with Carla Collins and Robin Ward
"Breakfast Television" with Ann Rohmer
"Lunch Television" with John Majhor
"Shirley" with Shirley Solomon
"Global News at Noon" with Sherry Miller
"Frost Over Canada" with Sir David Frost
CBC "Basic Black" with Arthur Black

...and was featured in numerous newspapers:
The Globe and Mail
The Toronto Star
The Toronto Sun
The Oakville Beaver

All this is probably more than you ever wanted to know, but because I'm a stranger and you'd be inviting me into your home, I wanted you to know I am of good character and well-known people have endorsed/vouched for me.

Undercover Client | Donate Anonymously

The book | My Story | Excerpt | News Room | Cover | Payment | Patrons
Book Store | Speaking | Blog | Housesitting | Driveway Surfing | Crowd-funding

The Kindness Experiment
How treating others better is in your best interest.



Andrea Reynolds, Suite 647, 2501 West 12th Street, Erie PA 16505

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