What does this distinguished group of people have in common? They all came out to help celebrate the part that they took in spreading disability awareness. As contributing authors to the book Sometimes The Wind Blows Sideways: Our Lives with a Special Needs Child, each of these individuals offered a unique perspective on how a disability has touched a loved one in their lives. The gathering came just in time to kick off Disability Awareness Month and was held at the Oswego Arise office.

Autographs please!
How often do you get a group of writers from the same book together in one room? I took full advantage of it and had everyone there pen me their John Hancock on the page where their story appeared. While not every author could attend this event, I am pleased that I was able to get as many signatures as I could.

Dinner, laughs, and good conversation:
The evening went by quickly as conversations passed among us. After our meal we all gathered for a photo shoot before retreating back to our lives. Once back home I got a nice surprise when I found out that the book was being sold at Barnes & Noble!  I pasted a copy of the link below for anyone who wishes to purchase a book.  A little birdie also told me to be watching out for a write up in the newspaper about our evening so I'll keep you post






Where To Pick Up a Copy:

Estore:
https://www.createspace.com/3703816

Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Sometimes-Wind-Blows-Sideways-Quonce/dp/1466419180/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321650454&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble.com:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sometimes-the-wind-blows-sideways-amy-quonce/1036936317?ean=9781466419186&itm=1&usri=amy+quonce

Kindle
Store:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00757ISSM

River's End Bookstore: Oswego, NY

This past Tuesday I was blown away by my readers. As a special Valentine's Day treat, I had offered a free Kindle download of my book Sometimes The Wind Blows Sideways: Our Lives with a Special Needs Child to everyone who had visited my blog that day. I did not advertise in advance what I was planning so whoever happened to read that day's post found the surprise.  97 people downloaded the book to their Kindle in less than 20 hours.

Never had I envisioned such an overwhelming response.  I know that many more people had visited my site on that day and did not have a device to download the book to, but they still read my blog post for the day. Others mentioned to me that they had shared my information to their support group and passed the word along to their friends. I am very excited that so many have found this book to be helpful.  Here is some of the feedback that I have received:

*All you wrote in the book names so many things. Thanks to you I see life in so many ways, thank You.

*I am finding such strength in your book. I just wanted to say thank you for  contacting me to see if I was
interested I'm submitting , but at point things  were so New . I was still processing and wasn't sure how to share. Just wanted  to say Thank you for Sharing all these Wonderful Parents & Special Children's Stories with The
World.

*Just want to say I have found this to  be inspirational. I can't put it down.

*What encouragement "Sometimes the Wind Blows Sideways" is to mothers of a special needs child. A compilation written my moms who live victoriously when the wind blows against them is just what every mom needs.

Your responses have been wonderful and I hope that for the next title I can get more writers to submit. If anyone wishes to purchase a paperback edition, it can be found at Amazon.Com via the following link.
http://www.amazon.com/Sometimes-Wind-Blows-Sideways-Quonce/dp/1466419180/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329480372&sr=8-1

Or you can visit the River's End Bookstore to pick up a copy.  Tonight I will be there for a reading of a piece of prose that I wrote and if you stop by at 7:00 to listen to all of the readers I will be more than happy to autograph a copy for you.  Refreshments are free and the readings have always proven to be wonderful.  Hope to see you there!

I love the digital age. Not only was I able to revise my print edition to add a bonus story, I was also able to convert my files into a kindle ready book. The title can be digitally downloaded within seconds to your kindle or ipad, which includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet.

Product Description from Amazon.com:

Raising a child with special needs can be both challenging and rewarding. In this special collection of short stories, families and caregivers share their struggles, laughs, and tears as they celebrate the lives of individuals who
have  triuimphed over unimaginable hurdles.
  
With topics that range from Autism, Down Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Developmental Delays, Brain Tumors, physical impariments and even the death of loved one, this book is a wonderful resource for parents, teachers, friends and neighbors whose lives have been touched by a disability.

To purchase a kindle edition of Sometimes The Wind Blows Sideways: Our Lives with a Special Needs Child, you can click here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00757ISSM

Since I am a member of KDP select, those of you who are a kindle owner AND a member of amazon prime, you can download this book free of charge.

To purchase a paperback of Sometimes The Wind Blows Sideways: Our Lives with a Special Needs Child, you
can click here:
http://www.amazon.com/Sometimes-Wind-Blows-Sideways-Quonce/dp/1466419180/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328327597&sr=1-1

**Remember that customer reviews are always welcomed on Amazon.Com.

Who says change isn't good?  During this past week, inspirations have guided me to tweak not only one, but three ways that I could improve on for my readers in 2012.

First, I have decided to not only expand the way that readers are able to access the book, but to branch out and start preparing for the book's sequel. Over Christmas vacation I had all but tore my hair out trying to properly format the book so that it could be accessed on kindle.  Eventually I gave up and walked away because the thought of looking at the files one more time honestly made me want to vomit.  I went back to work and put the thought of the looming files out of my mind and concentrated on other things.  Well life has a funny way of catching up with you, and sends gentle reminders of what path you need to be taking.

After I opened my recognition letter from Senator Patty Ritchie for the work done on the book, I knew it was time to look into what I could do to finish my goal of putting it into an e-reader.  I contacted kindle and asked if they offered conversion services that I could use.  Unfortunatly they said that they did not, but offered me a list of companies that do offer that very sevices.  Wouldn't you know that my publisher was one of the companies on the list?

So of course I contacted them right away to see what I needed to do start the process.  Easily enough I only need to allow them to convert my current files and I would be all set, but the problem was that I had a 'bonus' story ready to go into the kindle book.  If I converted my book as it, that story wouldn't make it into the e-reader.  But the more I thought about it the more I realized that this wasn't a problem, it was a sign of something greater.  I needed to adjust the files in my paperback book to include this 'bonus' story and at the same time add to the back matter the announcement of the book's sequel.  Yes...a second book is on the way and it needs your stories!

Any new books purchased through my estore (www.createspace.com/3703816) and at Amazon.com will contain the new material.  In there I have added an announcement that I will be accepting new stories for the second book.  Soon I will be adding more details on my website as to when the cut off will be for submissions and the anticipated date of release.  But the most exciting news is that I am extending this invitation to anyone who lives in the United States.  While my first book was focused on families in Central New York, many of you have friends and family who live in other states that would love to take part in this.  So please pass the word on, I would love to hear stories from as many places as possible!

Stay tuned for updates on the latest developments! 

Did you or someone you know get a new Kindle or iPad for Christmas?  If so, soon you will have the option to download Sometimes The Wind Blows Sideways: Our Lives with a Special Needs Child.

With schools being closed for Christmas vacation, I have finally found the time to format my book to enter the digital world. This version will contain everything that the paperback book offers and even includes a bonus story!

I am super excited to be bringing this title so many readers, and hope to expand my audience outside of New York state.  While all of the stories were written from Upstate New York, if I choose to do a sequel (which I have had many requests for) I would like to offer the opportunity for individuals to participate from all over the United States.  The Kindle version will allow easy access for others to see what the stories are all about as well as information on how they can partake in the second book.

My goal is to have this up and running by the time I return back to work, as long as I don't hit any major obstacles along the way...in other words if my computer will cooperate.  I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on the progress via the blog and facebook. (Facebook.com/WindingRoadBook)