It has been said that writing a book is like birthing a child. It takes time, patience, and alot of love. You become emotionally attached and live and breath your words on the page. This is how I spent my last six years.



Now I am proud to announce that my novel has been born. Breaking the Silence is now available for sale! You can pick up a copy on Amazon.Com or download an eBook for your Kindle. Links to both places are on the Breaking the Silence navigation tab to your left.

A blog tour is currently being planned as I make my way around the web. There will be free book giveaways and reviews to look forward to. Have a website and would like to take part? Email me at WindingRoadBook@aol.com and I will put you on the list of participants. If you don't have a site, you can always post your review on Amazon.Com after you read the

It's right around the corner. That magical time when the days grow longer, and green begins to once again touch upon this earth. Yes, spring is almost here.


Typically it's also the time when folks get the urge to declutter their home, and begin to prepare for the busy months coming ahead. I can hold no exception to this rule. Along with the spring cleaning within my home, I decide my website also needed a face lift.

There will be alot more changes coming soon, but as with any project, they must be taken one step at a time. For now, I hope you enjoy the cozier look of the site and keep your eyes peeled for some exciting things to come.

What's better than reading a good book?

Being able to give away free copies of great books to others. As an official World Book Night giver, that's exactly what I'm going to be able to do.

Last year the United States took part in it's first World Book Night event and I was thrilled to be a part of it. I gave away 20 copies of Because of Winn Dixie to kids in my school. This year, I will be searching for twenty more individuals to hand them a copy of Look Again, by Lisa Scotoline.

What exactly is World Book Night? It is a global effort to put books in the hands of light or non-readers, in an effort to teach them the love of reading. Volunteers around the world have signed up to deliver books on April 23rd. The list of books being given away this year is amazing

To find out more about this effort and how you can take part, visit www.worldbooknight.org/

Being the parent of a child with special needs means that once a year (perhaps even more) you face the dreaded CSE meeting. For most, that means facing your child's teacher, therapists, and the head of the special education department to try and have a spirited discussion on what is in the best interest  of your child. However, when I attend meetings, I am not only sitting among the  professionals who educate my child, I am sitting among my colleagues and my boss.
 
This is a tough balancing act. There are time when I want to go all mama-bear on them and fight for what my daughter needs, yet I need to maintain a level of professionalism for the sake of my career. Still, on occassion, I have been known to remove my working cap and represent myself solely as the parent who needs to advocate for my child.
 
Just yesterday I sat at a meeting and listened to the school assure me that there was a plan in place for her and it was safe to remove her special alerts off her IEP. After all, I was just being an over protective mother and they want  to foster independence in my child. Then the very next afternoon the plan that  they had in place fell through and I was caught up in a panic attack
wondering  where my child was. Sadly, this is not the first time this has happened.

Yes, my  child's legally binding IEP has not fully protected her in the way that it  should.
 
Parents, please don't be intimidated to stand up for what your child needs. Bring advocates to your meeting. Supply the committee team with paperwork backing your reason for your special request. If you are not happy with the way the meeting is going, you have the right to table it and reconvene at a later time. You also have the right to call a meeting whenever you like. You don't have to wait until next year's scheduled meeting. Do whatever you need to do in order to get your child what they need to get them through their school years. You know your child better than anyone else, and you are the only person who is going to fight for your child's rights. I am proud to say that today I switched my ID badge from Amy Quonce: school professional, to Mama Bear: parent on the prowl.












































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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Where's Heidi? A question that Lisa M. Buske and her family have been asking since April 3, 1994.

When her one and only sister, Heidi Allen, was kidnapped, Lisa lost more than just her sister. Her trust in her community, and her faith, disappeared as quickly as her best friend had. As Lisa searches alongside her family to find her sister, she learns that she is not alone in her emptiness, and ultimately ends up finding herself after a little boy invites her to bring God into her heart.

The author takes her readers on a journey of pain, self-destruction, and re-birth after the loss of her sister. She shares her story with us so that we might relate to a loss in our own life, wether it be to a kidnapping, death, or other circumstances. Lisa wants us to know that healing is possible, and hope is never lost.

Behind the scenes with Lisa M. Buske:

What is your favorite part of the book?

There isn't one chapter or part of the book that is my  favorite. But to answer Amy's question, a favorite aspect of the book is to know  others will  hope and healing after tragedy. In 1994, my only sister was  kidnapped and remains missing. I spent more than a decade searching for  something to fill the void left in her absence but found nothing.

Where's  Heidi? One Sister's Journey, shares both the loss and grief in the moment  following Heidi's kidnapping but also the love, hope, and healing experienced  once I realized God never left me, I left Him. So my favorite aspect is knowing  others might experience hope and healing for the first time since they lost  their loved one.

What to you hope your reader's will take away from the story?

I pray readers recognize God's working in their life and the  possibility to overcome whatever tragedy, loss, or stressors life might place in  their path. This is my story yet we all have a story to tell and something to  learn. This is one of the reasons I included the discussion questions in the  back. If your heart is touched, don't stop there ~ open it up and share it with  someone else.
You are not alone!

You mention in the story that you had mixed emotions when the missing person's expert came to help your sister's case. Why did you feel that way?

When your loved one is  missing, emotions run amuck. The idea of a missing expert joining the  investigation instilled hope but at the same time brought to light the  realization, "Heidi is missing and I may never see her again." His arrival  triggered the reality I would probably never see my
sister alive again. This was  devastating. I am forever thankful for his coming and joining the team yet at  the time, his initial arrival ripped at my heart.

How can your readers keep in touch with you?

Website: http://LisaMBuske.com
Blog: http://lisabuske.weebly.com/blog.html
Facebook: “Where’s Heidi?” book page and “Lisa M Buske” author page
Twitter: @LisaBuske

Every day this year has been spent working on the final edits of my books. (Easy enough to say seeing we're only twelve days into 2013, but I'm not against making it sound good.) My editor has gone through the manuscript and advised me how to improve it even further. The changes have been sent back, and I am now awaiting the final copy of what will become my very first novel. But knowing me, I can't just idle until I get it back. But how will I spend my time? Luckily, the answer arrived in my inbox this morning.


The 2013 Oswego Reading Council's annual writing contest is underway. The topic this year:
"Where I Come From". Oh, the story was writing itself as I was reading the contest rules. The first time I entered was in 2011, and I walked away with the 2nd place ribbon. The following year I placed third. Will this year's essay be up to par and place in the top three again? Only time will tell. Even if it doesn't, it allows me another chance to create prose, and perfect my craft.

At the stroke of midnight tonight, 2012 will be washed away, bringing a fresh start to the new year. This is typically the time when people look back at their past make resolutions on how they want to improve their lives. My goal will be slightly different this year. I am going to look back at my novel and make the changes necessary to put it into production in 2013.

My editor has been working on my manuscript, with the anticipation of having it back to me by the first of the year. Some preliminary notes have made their way into my inbox a few days ago, but the bulk of revisions needed are still yet to be seen. Does this make me nervous? You bet !!!

I have no idea what to expect once I receive my manuscript back, but I do know that I am in good hands. My editor has already blessed me with excellent advice and helped to bring my novel into a book that will meet the standards for quality within the publishing industry. 

2012 has been a very busy year. I took part in a couple of speaking engagements, helped a fellow author self-publisher her book, celebrated success with my fellow writer's in our critique group, and took my sloppy copy of my novel revised until my eyes and fingers were sore. Experiences that brought growth and friendships that I will treasure forever.

In just a few short hours the new year will be upon us. May it bring you success in your endevours, and happiness in your hearts.





 

Dear Santa,
I have been a very good girl this year. My family has tried to be good too. Please surprise us Christmas morning with presents under the tree. I'll be waiting up for you tonight.

Love,
Elizabeth

A sensless tragedy has taken innocent lives. Twenty children, many of them very young, were taken from this Earth just days before Christmas. 
Six adults also feel victim to the horrible school shooting that took place in Newton Connecticut.

I am saddened beyond words.

As a school teacher, I couldn't imagine the horror of trying to protect your students from a gunman. We prepare for emergency situations, but never imagine that we will have to use the procedures in real life. School should be a place where children feel safe. The kids from Sandy Hook Elementary School had that security stolen from them.

The pain the victim's parents must be feeling is beyond comprehension. Instead of taking their child to visit with Santa and wrapping presents for them to find on Christmas morning, they will be planning funeral services. My heart goes out to them.