What a crazy week this has been.  With the release of my new book, what little time I have left after work has been spent between autographing copies, signing a contract with the bookstore, getting the stories ready that will be on display at the YMCA Christmas party, and preparing for the upcoming craft show this weekend where my book will be for sale at two different locations.

This Friday is a big day for some of the families who contributed to the book.  Their stories will set up for the public to view during the Christmas party from 6-8pm at the Oswego Armory.  I am so proud of everyone and the work that they did that I wanted to showcase their talent.  Many people are very excited about their big debut!


On Saturday December 3rd, you can stop by and visit me in Oswego, NY at St. Joseph's annual holiday craft show from 10-4.  The building is located on W.1st street across from the YMCA.  I will be selling autographed copies of my book at a special sale price.

Also on December 3rd you can find autographed copies of my book at the Mexico Presbytarian Church during their annual Christmas holiday expo.  You can stroll the town and take part in the Dicken's Christmas Carol, visit the many different churches that are holding craft sales, and get a jump start on your holiday cheer.  You will need to look for Lisa Buske's booth from 9-3, and while you are there you chat with her about her upcoming book as well.

The picture above is from the River's End Bookstore in Oswego, NY.  There have my book on their shelves in not one, but two spots in the store.  The first is under "Local Authors" and the second is under the "Inspirational" section.  You can ask for Sometimes The Wind Blows Sideways:Our Lives with a Special Need Child 
and the employees will be more than happy to assist you.  Remember that they do free gift wrapping for the holidays!

Last night I traveled to Rome, NY for my monthly writer's critique group.  I love going there and talking shop.  It's luxury a night out with just the girls.  But last night was even more special.  I was asked to autograph my new book!

Elaine W. Miller, author of Splashes of Serenity, bought one of the first copies of my book and asked if I would autograph it for her daughter.  I can't tell you what an honor that was.  I thought coming home to a large shipment of my own books sitting on my porch was exciting, but having people ask me to sign them was even more rewarding.

Starting tomorrow, November 30th, the River's End Bookstore will start carrying my title as part of their stock.  If you are in there browsing, please look for Sometimes The Wind Blows Sideways: Our Lives with a Special Needs Child as part of the local author section. 

On April 1st, 2012, keep your eye out for Elaine's new book We AlMarried Idiots. It is slated to be a wonderful book on marriage with helpful advise on how to fix life's little problems.

As we approach the end of the year 2011, the season has come upon us to reflect upon what we can be thankful for in our lives.  Did your family have a warm place to live and enough food to eat?  Perhaps you can be thankful that your company didn't make job cuts this year and that you were in good health. Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate all the good things in your life, the little things that we way too often take for granted.

While this past year has had it's ups and down for me, I can still count all my blessings for the things that I do have in my life.  A wonderful husband and daughter, friends and family, and peace within myself.  Outside of these things everything is secondary.  When I sit down to my hot Thanksgiving meal this year, these are the tiny moments that I will be thankful for.

Whether you come from a family of little means or one of vast wealth, the true meaning of the holiday season should be focused on what is truly important.  The people who surround you and the blessings that they bring to your life.  May your holiday season be prosperous, joyous, and full of time with the ones who matter the most to you. 

Sometimes The Wind Blows Sideways: Our Lives with a Special Needs Child  is now available for sales !!
The price is $12.95 and can be found at the follow locations:

*My estore is open and running if you wish to purchase books right away.  You can find it at https://www.createspace.com/3703816.

*My account with Amazon.com should be active within the week.  If you plan on using them to make a purchase, keep checking the site as often the accounts are working before the standard 5-7 day grace period.  Keep in mind they do offer free shipping on qualifying orders of $25 or more!

* I will also have a supply of books availble for sales. I can offer a discount and sell the books for a flat $12, tax included.  These will be availble at the Mexico Church craft show on Saturday December 2nd. Additional craft shows may be pending, so stay tuned for details.
 
*The River's End Bookstore in Oswego will also be stocking the book. The hope is to have it there by next week, but I will update the website as soon as I have a definate date.

Yesterday I gave a glimpse of the book jacket for my new book Sometimes The Wind Blows Sideways: Our Lives with a Special Needs Child.  As of today a full version has been placed on the title tab above.  I am still editing the page and will input the exact release date on there very shortly.

As the holiday season approaches, I will be selling the book at various craft shows around the area.  If you know of one coming up and would like to have my book available for purchase, feel free to let me know of the venue and I will try my best to book a table.

It's in my hands.  I am holding the actual proof of my book...can life get any more exciting? 

As you can see I am standing in front of the tree that is on the front cover of my book.  It may be slightly barren now, but the colorful spelendor that once was is now forever preserved as the picture that stands to represent the strength that every family with a special needs individual possesses.

The stories in my book will create smiles, tears, and compassion.  They were written to not only give insight as to what hurdles many of them have gone through, but so that we can raise awareness.

I am very happy to announce that the actual release date for publication will be sooner than expected.  While I cannot give specifics at the moment, I can tell you that the From Caring To Sharing tab above will soon be transformed into the details on my book.  Make sure you check back often to be the first one to know when it is availble for sales, the date of the book launching party, and where you can buy one directly from me at holiday craft sales.

Midnight...and the house is still.  One frustrated writer works furiously to outwit her old nagging computer.  She tries and fails at every attempt until the clock strikes twelve.  At that very moment a miracle happens under the light of the full moon.  The files get uploaded and a confirmation note has been sent that the publisher has received them.  Now she must sit and wait.  Wait grueling 48 hours until she finds out if the review board has approved the files and that they were formatted correctly.  How will it all end?  Stay tuned for the next episode of...."THE WRITER vs The Book".

The last few days have flown by like a whirlwind.  I have to admit I was a little nervous about completing everything in time to send it off to the publisher by Monday and meeting my deadline.  By 9:30 pm I was still receiving submissions, which was exciting. I stayed up late deciding the order of each story and formatting the Table of Contents.  It was going to get done before I went to bed if I had to stay up all night. Did I manage to accomplish this?  I'm am happy to announce that I DID !! (And still managed to get a few hours of shut eye before getting up for work the next morning)

This morning a proof book was ordered and will be in my hand this Thursday.  (Yoo Hoo!!!!)  After I receive it I will be debuting the cover design and then combing over the interior to ensure that it is sales ready.  As soon as I give the okay to the publisher it will be available for sales online.  I will then be working on my distributation channels to have it displayed at book stores and retail outlets, as well as launching a book release party.

For those who like to visit craft shows (esepcially around the upcoming holidays), I plan on sitting at a booth selling the book in person as well.  I am especially looking forward to meeting everyone so make sure you stop by and say hello.  The dates and locations will be announcing via my blog and facebook.

I would like to once again thank all of the families who submitted stories for the book.  Without you this venture would not have been possible.  You will read stories from parents, grandparents, even a service dog on how a special person has influence and shaped their lives.  Meet all of these wonderful authors in my new book Sometimes The Wind Blows Sideways: Our Lives with a Special Needs Child.

Where has the time gone?  It was just over the summer when I bought a Chicken Soup for the soul book to read while I was sitting at the beach did I come up with the idea to produce an anthology about special needs kids in Upstate New York.  I brainstormed how to facilitate the project and embarked on a journey that has been incrediable.  Now I am finding myself just one day shy of the deadline and I am working furiously to meet my own deadline.

There is alot more to creating a book than just writing words.  I have taken on the job as compiler, editor, page designer and cover creater.  None of these which were easy tasks when you have a computer that seems to hate you.  Trying to correctly formate the interior pages when they seem to have a mind of their own is frankly making me start to go bonkers.  Why the pages will not cooperate is beyond me, but I am bound and determined to keep plugging away until the pages are perfectly aligned. If you want to say a small prayer for me now that I can accomplish that that would be great!!

Two more stories were inserted last night and still there are a few more that people have assured me are on their way.  What the final number of stories will be is yet to be determined, but I can tell you now that each one will make you laugh, cry, and nod your head in a "been there, done that" mode.  I am so proud of all these terrific writers who have bared their hearts and soul to share stories with the entire world.

By late tomorrow night, I will have upload all of the files to the publisher.  A preview book will have been ordered, and a product description for Amazon.Com will have been created.  My job between now and the time I receive my proof book will be to contact book stores, retail markets, and anywhere else that I can think of to arrange to have Sometimes The Wind Blows Sideways: Our Lives with a Special Needs Child on store shelves.  And Kindle lovers, no worries, an electronic version of the book is also on it's way!
 
In the meantime, here's a picture of the tree that was instrumental in creating my book, both inside and out.  Stay tuned to find out more.....

"I love books so much that I want to eat each book that I read because they are so delicious."

Now that if that isn't the cutest thing I have ever heard a kid say then I don't know what is. This quote came from a family member of Laura Robb, who presented last night's Reading Council event.  Laura's goal for the night was to teach teachers how to get their students to stop and think while they are reading so that they can better comprehend the text.

Have you ever paid attention to what your head and heart was thinking when you read a book?  Did you get a mental picture of what the characters looked like or feel happy/sad for a character?  Doing this enables you to become involved in the reading...to feel connected to the story.  You are now better able to make inferences on  the inner thoughts of the characters, the decisions they will make, and possible outcomes of the story.

Reading is so much fun.  The next time you pick up a book, allow yourself to become immersed in the story.  See if you are able to recall small deatils from it.  You will be amazed at how much you can visualize from the text, allowing you to be transported to far away places