Big News: Penny Brown Now on Kindle

Hello friends:

I am so excited that I can hardly stand it today. "I Sit in A Wheelchair....But I Will Be Okay" is now on Kindle!!! That's right, my friends, Penny Brown is advancing in the technological age. The Kindle version of the book is only five dollars. Please go to www.amazon.com, and download my book.

Some of you may wonder why I am putting Penny Brown on Kindle. During a radio interview I had done for Blog Talk Radio last year, someone had asked during a chat session, since the book focuses on handicapped children, will I release the book in braille or any any format that would make it easily accessible. Honestly, that is the first time, I had even thought about it. The listener's comments did make sense though. Some handicapped children and adults for that matter may have a difficult time reading a traditional paperback. I did some research, and decided it was worth a shot.

I do not know of one child who owns a Kindle. However, I know several parents who do. Kindles are nice to take on long car or airplane trips because parents can read about Penny's adventure to the children in order to make the time pass faster. The paper back bersion of "I Sit In A Wheelchair...But I Will Be Okay has done well since it came out a little over a year ago, but I am always looking for ways to get the true message of the book out there. (Children can do anything they set their mind to) I feel that Kindles will over ride paperback books in time. Technology holds the key to the doors of the future. So, I thought Penny might as well move along with it.

So, if you will, please consider putting the book on a Kindle for a child. You will be giving children a gift that lasts a lifetime.

The Oklahoma Mini Book Tour April 14-16th

Hello everyone!

Here I am back home safe and sound in Cecil, Arkansas. Toward the end of last week, I embarked on a book signing extravaganza with my illustrator and best friend Michelle Oakley. We had a BLAST!!!!

Thursday, April 14th I began my day very early (3:00 A.M. to catch a ride with my book club friend Donna and her husband Larry. Donna was catching a plane to Ohio to visit her Mom. Therefore we had to be at the airport by 7:00 A.M. Once Larry and I dropped Donna off, Larry dropped me off at Michelle's house in Sperry. (So what if he took a few wrong turns. All that mattered is that I got there in one piece. Thanks Larry and Donna for the ride.

Michelle and i baby-sat her nephew Gavin. What a cutie he is! I just love him. Thursday night, Michelle and I, along with her Mom Deanna and her sister Susan (and of course Gavin) attended The Little Lighthouse Resource Fair. What an adventure that was. Skies had looked threatening before we left the house, but Michelle and I beingthe dedicated professionals we are, went on our way. The Little Lighthouse had a table set up for our book. However, we were only there ten minutes when the tornado sirens sounded in Tulsa County! YIKES!!!! (I am deathly afraid of tornadoes!) The LLH staff ushered us in an office. I took my book copies and managed to talk to some people in the storm shelter. By the time, we were released, we had missed 30 minutes of the event. Not all was lost when someone purchased a book, and we handed out a LOT of information. So, the lesson for the day: Sometimes, there are things in life we can't control, but we have to keep on keeping on!

Friday, April 15th-Michelle and I arrived at Sperry Public Schools with books in tow by 9:15 A.M. We were a part of a very special author question and answer session called "The Sperry Connection." All of the authors/illustrators who were invited had some connection to Sperry. The panel included Michelle and myself, plus a lady named Rhonda Gaynor, a a Sperry High School Graduate who has written and published "Debbie the Duck. She brought real live ducks, which the kids loved. I missed seeing Peggy Perry Anderson, who was also supposed to be there, but at the last minute had a commitment. We spoke to about 500 kids and had a blast. The kids had some great questions. I would like to thank Beth Coyle, Sperry Liberian for inviting us, as well as the lovely plant.

Saturday, April 16th Michelle and I were off and running early again. This time, we headed to Tulsa, where we signed books at Steve's Sundries and magazines. That was fun. Michelle met two people who were actually looking for illustrators. She was so excited. I got to see Amy Stutzman and Amanda Waters, two of my classmates from Adair High School. I also saw my Aunt Debbie Estes. Thank to everyone who came. Steve's was a fun place, and i would love to go back there someday.

All in all, Michelle and I had a great weekend! We sold approximately 15 books for all three events. THANK-YOU all so much. We know times are hard with gas prices on the rise as well as everything else. If anyone would like us to make more appearances, just let us know. We love you all!

The Dabbling Mum

Being a writer is so much fun. Putting pen to paper (or in my case fingers to the keyboard!) is so magical. I am writing words to form a story. This story will hopefully leave a lasting impression on many people. One of the most fun aspects of being an author is doing interviews. on Monday, Michelle and I were featured on the blog/parenting magazine The Dabbling Mum. Alyice Edrich does a wonderful job with this site, and I encourage all parents to review it. The Dabbling Mum not only offers artists and author interviews, but she also offers parenting tips. Please check out Brittany's interview at www.thedabblingmum.com As I have said, I love to do interviews about "I Sit In A Wheelchair...But I Will Be Okay" If anyone can think of a parenting magazine or somewhere where I could do an interview and talk about the book, please let me know. Have a great week!

A Somewhat Slow Week, and a preview of an upcoming book

Hi everybody! It's time for my weekly blog post about Penny Brown. There is not much to report for now, but that will soon change. Last week, I posted about filling out an interview for thedabblingmum.com Well, I was accepted, and the interview will appear on www.thedablingmum.com on April 4th. I am so excited! I sent in one book order for the upcoming signings in Tulsa in April. (Another book order will be going in at the end of the week) Michelle and i want to make sure there are enough books for everyone who wants them. Earlirt in the week, I posted two of Michelle's drawings for the book we are working on "I Am Sorry that Gigi Forgets........But I Will Be Okay" Many people have been asking about the second book, so let me give you littole background info. This title was inspiried by my beloved Grandmother, who has been living with Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia for the last four years. Grandma is one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. We have been through a lot over the years. Being a caregiver is difficult, but it is also very rewarding. Penny helps care for her beloved Gigi after Gigi became a permanent member of Penny's household due to dementia. It is my hope to have this book out on shelves by October 29th, or Grandma's 75th birthday. What a great gift that would make. I will write more later. Please keep reading "I Sit IN A Wheelchair...But I Will Be Okay." As always, thank-you for the support.

Promotional Opportunities

Hello everybody!

What a busy week in the world of Penny Brown. I have constantly stayed glued to the computer in the hopes of promoting our upcoming book signings in April. I have learned that i will get a chance to do not one, not two, but three signings in one weekend. WOW!!!! (I am fixing to place a book order next week to make sure I have enough books for everyone who wants them. All three signings will be in and around the Tulsa area. Michelle and I will head to The Little Lighthouse and Steve's, but will also get a chance to promote Penny at Sperry Public Schools (Friday, April 15).

I have probably spent more time promoting Penny this week than I should have. (In other words, I have let the housework slide a bit YIKES) However, it was well worth it. I answered some questions about "I Sit In A Wheelchair...But I Will Be Okay for the Dabbling Mum.com. She features children's books on her blog. I also got word to Fox 23 in Tulsa about the upcoming book events. What I am most excited about is an invitation to appear on a radio program called "Disabled Radio" The producer contacted my by e-mail, He has scheduled me to do a phone interview on Wednesday April 13th at 8 P.M central time. (The show airs from Chicago). So, thank-you to Vince Staskel and host Rob Pritts. I am really looking forward to this!

I am also on Facebook (I Sit in A Wheelchair......But I Will Be Okay (Penny Brown Books) Feel free to become a fan! My Twitter account is @74330yahoo.com Feel free to follow me.

I realize I may talk about "I Sit in A Wheelchair...But I Will Be Okay" a LOT, but Michelle and I feel promotion is the key to success. At times, I even feel I may be forcing the book on people, but it's my job, and I really love it!!!

I think I will go for now. More later!

Signing Books in the Fort

Hey!

Hope everyone is doing well. I am wonderful. Glad to have Michelle here with me for the weekend. We were on hand at Fort Smith Public Library on Friday afternoon. That place amazed both of us. The library was about three stories----It isn't just a library, but, it could pass for a small city. The Fort Smith Library had a small cafe called Dewey's and a book shop where you could actually buy books! (I took advantage of that for the book club swap!)

Michelle and I couldn't have been treated better. We enjoyed chatting with Mrs. Diane Chessier, and some of the library staff. All were friendly and helpful. We sold a grand total of five books--I know you are probably thinking this is a low number, but were were okay with it, considering the circumstances, gas prices, and such. At one point, a line of people formed to talk about "I Sit In A Wheelchair...But I Will Be Okay" We met a gentleman who was a retired special education teacher, who actually got his start in Tulsa (close to Michelle's stomping ground) We also met a gentleman who is a full time caregiver and advocate for disabled person's.

If you missed us on Friday, don't worry, there will be several more opportunities in the coming months. Thank-you everyone for making our library time enjoyable. And, as always, you can find "I Sit In A Wheelchair...But I Will Be Okay on http://www.amazon.com/

Writer at Work

Hello friends!

While I am still busy promoting Miss Penny Brown and her wheelchair, I would like to take a different approach to this week's blog. It has to do with Penny Brown, but it also profiles writing life in general.

I have a confession to make. Sometimes, I am envious of other people. Like Penny, I wish I could do certain tasks more easily. She wishes she could walk, run, or slide down the big slide. Well, I wish I could have a regular nine to five job, and could drive to that job. I would love to have an office where I would sit and do nothing but write all day. However, I have to learn to accept my short comings, and realize that I will be okay.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade/ So, I can't work at a regular job. Therefore, I decide I will devote my life to writing books and magazine articles. Writing has been my goal for as long as I I can remember. My job may be more different from the 9-5 work in an office building. However, it doesn't matte where you do the work as long as you are productive.

One question arises here. People often ask me, "How can you be productive at home?" The answer can be summed up in one word. Motivation. You have to love what you do, or you won't stick with it. One misconception about working from home (especially for writers) is they do not actually work. Instead they sit around watching Trashy talk shows and daytime dramas. those folks couldn't be more wrong. Work at home writers have to work even harder to stay focused because there are so many distractions. People don't realize writers have working hours, just like everybody else.

Here are the top five distractions for people working at home. (And how to deal with them!)

1. The television-Some people work with it for background noise. I am pretty well used to this, but if there is a show that I want to catch during the day, I simply set my DVR, and watch it when I can.

2. The Telephone-This is a huge hindrance to some people. (Myself included) Sometimes, people call during the day just to chat. This is fine for me most of the time, but sometimes, I will get on a writing roll, and the shrill ring of the phone stops me completely in my tracks. Sometimes, I can get the rhythm back after talking, sometimes, I can't. I usually look at the caller ID, and if I don't answer, it's because I am writing mode. i will call back as soon as I am finished with my thought or idea.

3. Family members. in my case, this isn't a distraction. I am a caregiver to my wonderful 74 year old grandmother, and I lover her very much. True, when I am care giving, I am not writing. However, the caregivee's needs ALWAYS comes first. Writing will always be there, your loved ones will not. Sometimes, care giving for me is a good distraction from writing. If I am stuck on an idea, and Grandma needs my assistance, I try to meet her needs, and come back to writing later.

4. Facebook, E-mail, and Twitter The computer can be your best friend or worst enemy. Social networking sites are good for promoting your writing, but before long, you realize you have spent a long time promoting when you are supposed to be writing. I check e-mail and facebook at random throughout the day. It usually helps to set a timer and stick to it.

5. Housework-If you are like me, you try to keep the chores up on a daily basis. I have a schedule for chores. I only do three a day on a rotating basis (except laundry, which is done everyday in my house) Chores are done at certain times, early in the morning or late at night. this way, you are not neglecting writing, but not totally neglecting housework either.

I am sure many more distractions are out there. A writer must learn to set limits. The work will get done. See you next time.