Life is Hard Sometimes...But I Will Be Okay

Hello everybody!

Is everyone enjoying the hot weather? I don't know about you all, but I am ready for some rain. It's too hot to do anything outside, and the Oklahoma kids are going back to school this week. Michelle is starting a new job in addition to her illustrations she is doing for me. Michelle's Mom is going back to workl. I will focus more on my writing. Tomorrow will be a brand new begining for all of us in this house.

Writing is more than just writing. I also research places to advertise about Penny Brown. Last week, I responded to an ad from the Reporter Connection. Mrs. Yvonne Wu is the CEO of a blog/magazine called Women Connect. It spotlights reviews about books, music, fashion, and she has a section devoted to children's books. I sent her an e-mail, explainng about Penny Brown, so told me to write an article, and she would publish it. I am pleased to say the article is featured on her site Women Connect. Follow this link: http://www.womenconnectonline.com Please Click on the Children's books tab to read it. Please share with me your thoughs about the article.

I love doing interviews, so if anyone knows anybody who is looking for a children's author to interview, I would be interested. Please feel free to contact me. taz_lover74330@yahoo.com

Gotta go.......Think i hear my pen calling me. Until next time, stay cool.

A new idea for Penny

Hello all!

Writing is an amazing experience. Ever since I moved to Sperry, I have been looking for new ideas for children's books. Michelle is creating the illustrations as fast as she can. Ten new Penny ideas and titles were revealed in the last blog entry. However, I didn't want to get to far ahead in te series without waiting for her wondrful drawings. This week, I have tossed around ideas for children's short stories, and books. It occured to me that I would like to try my hand at writing a childrens chapter book. Do you think I can do it? Yes I can!

My outline is rough, but I cannot wait to start on this story. This book is going to be a spin-off of the Penny series involving Penny Brown's new older friend Pheobe. The working title for this book is The Slumber Party Blues, and target age range is for 7-11 year olds. Summary: Peobhe invites her new friend Penny Brown to a slumber party at her house. Penny is excited and plans on going, but just days before the big bash, Pheobe calls and "uninvites" her without giving her a reason. Penny is sad about this. Can Penny discover what it is and what can she do about it.

So what do you think? Is it a good idea or not? I want to write a chapter book that includes some illustrations. The theme still centers around Penny Brown's character Making a bad situation bearable. So, please give me some opinions, and I will alk to you later!

Penny's New Working Titles

Hi everyone!

Now that I m settled in my new place in Sperry, Oklahoma, I will be paying a lot more attention to Penny Brown Book series. As some of you already know, I have three books completed......just waiting on my trusty friend and illustrator Michelle to finish those drawings. In the meantime, I have decided to make a list of upcoming subjects/working titles for Penny Brown. See what you all think, and if you have any suggestions, please let me know.

I Am Sad Gigi Forgets...But I Will Be Okay Penny's Great-grandmother deals with a serious illness.

I Am So Homesick...But I Will Be Okay (Penny's Road Trip Adventure)

Penny being put in Special Ed

I Am Angry with Gigi...Bt I Will Be Okay (A Book about Death/dyin

Pennyand her fear of thunderstorms

Penny's house burning down Dealing with loss and moving on

Penny helping a neighbor in need

Penny nd her family moving

Penny taking responsibility for her actions.

Penny learning to get along with people

Penny gets a puppy........the responsibility book

These are just ideas that I am tossing around..please feel free to add more.

Thanks! Untill next time

I am back to blogging

Hello everyone-

Did you miss me? It feels like a long time since I have written on this blog, and technically , it has been. Due to personal family issues, I felt that I needed to take a break from blogging for awhile.........but I am all settled now, and promise to keep The Penny Brown Adventures updated at least once a week.

Not much has went on with the Penny Brown series since May. Again.......tha is my fault. I am back, and ready to do some signings for "I Sit In A Wheelchair....But I Will Be Okay." As you might rcall, the last one Michelle and I did was at the Oklahoma Special Olympics State Games in Stillwater. It was a lot of fun, but I am now ready to get back to signing some books. If any one knows any place in and arround Tulsa/Owasso Oklahoma....please send me an e-mail.

I have Book #2 completed, and just waiting on Michelle to finish the artwork for it This book hit close to hom because it deals with personal illness within family. Anoyone with children need this book becase it explains the illness in simple direct terms. I hope to have it published and on shelves by October.......we will se wha happens.

I also have Book #3 in the Penny series completed........needs a little editing done, and of copurse Michelle's wonderful artistic touches. We will make it happen.

Remember, you can purchase I Sit In A Wheelchair on www.amazon.com www.barnesandnoble.com and www.booksamillion.com (The book is also on Kindle) and will be on the Nook in the comming weeks.

Please drop me a line on Facebook. Or comment on here. Michelle and I would love to hear from you.

The Special Olympics May 11-13th

Hi everybody!

I have been back from my latest Penny Brown Book signing since Sunday. Michelle and I had an opportunity to sell copies of I Sit In A Wheelchair...But I Will Be Okay" at the Special Olympics State games in Stillwater, OK. I don't know about Michelle, but I had a wonderful time! We were of course hanging around with The Sperry Pirate team, coached by Michelle's Mom Deanna Oakley.

One of the best thnigs I like about the games themselves is that it gives kids a chance to participate in sports, that otherwise never would have an opportunity. Some of these special kids come to school every day with not much more than the clothes on their backs. Many of these kids have medical problems that are beyond their control. However, when these special kids compete, it gives them a sense of control, and the feelling that they can do something positive in life. They may not win,or even come close at times, but just being able to participate is half the fun.

I cannot say enough good about The Sperry Pirate team. They played their hearts out. Deanna has done wonderful work with them. She also has some dedicated patents and aides who help out when needed. We came home with a gold medal a few silver, and a few bronze this year, but more important the kids felt a sense of accomplishment when crossing the finish line. These kids have inspired ME to participate next year.......and I am the biggest klutz on the planet! So, we will see what happens.

Michelle and I only sold ten copies of "I Sit In A Wheelchair....But I Will Be Okay". The weather hindered us a bit. We went from being windblown to sunburt to freezing. This is okay.....we will do better next year for sure.

I will go for now...before I close, I just wanted to say I am proud to be an honorary Pirate!!!!!

A Cute E-mail

I have been meaning to share this on my blog for a few weeks, but life has seemed to keep me from blogging lately. Michelle and I recently sat in on a panel discussion called "The Sperry Connection." This is a panel made up of the two of us and another author. These local authors all have ties to Sperry in some way.

That night after Michelle and I returned from the panel discussion, hewr mother Deanna received a cute e-mail that was meant for us. Here is the letter exactly as we recieved it.

Hi!

My name is Kelli. I am 10 years old. You and your friend were here at my school recently. I am from Sperry Intermideate. I hacve a question for you. Are you Miss Crawford or Miss Oakley (Our business cards list two seperate e-mail addresses.) I think I should have asked my Mom for ten dollars to buy your book. I like to read. Anyways, e-mail me back sometime.

Love, Kelli

This e-mail just made our day. Thanks Kelli You Rock!

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.