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Lunada Bay Elementary and Day 1 of the Abilities Expo LAMarch 31st, 2012Thursday, I had the pleasure of introducing Wendy on Wheels to a kindergarten class at Lunada Bay Elementary School. It was my first school visit in California. What a wonderful group of little ones! I started with Wendy on Wheels Goes to the Zoo. The group did great with the discussion questions, although they were more interested in having me read more books. I read two more of my books. I got a bunch of hugs when it was time for me to go. How sweet! I LOVE IT!!! On my way out, I saw some excellent anti-bully signs the second graders made.
I love this catchphase, “Bullies are a pain in the brain!” I used to draw hearts on everything when I was a kid.
Yesterday, was the first day of the Abilities Expo in LA. It was great. There was very little traffic on the way to downtown LA, so we got our booth set up right on time. That’s always a good start. I met a lot of great people. Here’s a picture of my son and me.
One particular conversation that stands out in my mind was with a gentleman, named Andrew. He said at the time he started kindergarten around 1977, they had just started mainstreaming children with different abilities. He was the first ever child with a wheelchair to attend at the school. The school was not prepared, mentally or physically. Not only did he have to go all the way outside to get to other parts of the school but he had 300 kids asking him all sorts of questions. “What’s wrong with you?” “How do you go to the bathroom?” “Why are your feet so small?” I can imagine it made things very difficult. I hope to change this with Wendy on Wheels. There are two more days of the Abilities Expo in LA. I read my newest book, Wendy on Wheels Takes a Stand today in my workshop. I can’t wait! St. Catherine Laboure’s Ability Awareness DayMarch 17th, 2012Yesterday, I had the pleasure of presenting Wendy on Wheels to the kindergarteners and first graders at St. Catherine Laboure School.
The first group of kindergarteners had already heard Wendy on Wheels Goes to the Zoo, my favorite book for Ability Awareness Days. One kid yelled out, ”I know what’s going to happen,” before I even started. During the story, some were saying parts of the story with me. It was awesome!! Then I read Wendy on Wheels Takes a Stand. Since it is new, no one had heard it yet. They loved it! The students chanted along, ”NO BULLY NO!!” They loved the signs. Speaking of signs, they had decorated the halls with signs for Abilities Awareness Days.
A possibilist. I like that!
This one is my favorite.
While I was reading to the second kindergarten group, one little boy said the boy next to him, “We’re not talking about Star Wars!” That made me laugh. In one of the first grade groups, I started out talking about my sister and how I was inspired to write Wendy on Wheels. One boy raised his hand and said, “Are you going to read the books?” Ha. I guess he didn’t care what I had to say. He just wanted to hear Wendy on Wheels. That’s good. I prefer it that way. It was a great day! What a wonderful group of children! I present at the Abilities Expo in Los Angeles in two weeks. I can’t wait!! Am I ready to change the world? I think so.February 17th, 2012Good morning, Atlanta! Today is the first day the Abilities Expo. I’ve been up around 5 thinking of all the things I need to do to get ready for today. Print out signs, work on a powerpoint for my workshop on Saturday, listen to meditation tracks on my ipod, read a motivational book and the list keeps going. At 6 am, I went down to the hot tub with my ipod to listen to my meditation stuff. In the pool area, they were playing some old Frank Sinatra/Dean Martinesque music. YES!! It was like they knew I was coming down. It was exactly what I needed to hear at that moment. YES!! I felt a rush of excitement go through me. Then I thought, Am I ready to change the world? I think so. “I think so,” really? Hmmmm… I’ve been preparing for this for months and that was the response I got. Oh well. I was feeling really anxious/nervous yesterday, so I will take it. I practiced reading Wendy on Wheels Takes a Stand to my nephew’s first grade class yesterday in Chattanooga, TN. I haven’t been to many private schools so the group was a little different than I am used to. It seemed like they had never seen or even heard of a child who uses a wheelchair before. There are probably many other classes like this. I really need to get out there more and visit as many schools as possible. Someone has to teach the world to accept others regardless of abilities. Someone needs to show the world that people who use wheelchairs, crutches, hearing aids or any thing of the sort are just like them. Someone needs motivate children with different abilities to have fun and enjoy life. That someone is me! And that someone would also love a cup from Starbucks or Caribou right now. Ability AwarenessMay 23rd, 2011I haven’t written a blog in a while. Things have been kind of crazy. Thursday, Marvin Elementary invited me to read to students as part of their Ability Awareness Day. It’s always fun to read Wendy on Wheels Goes to the Zoo to children in St. Louis since they recognize the St. Louis Zoo. It’s such a good book for ability awareness. I went with my friend, Tom, from Warwick Photography last week to Tilles Park to take some new photos to put on my website and use for magazines and things. There were hundreds of little ones running all over the playground with shirts that said KECC (Kirkwood Early Childhood Center.) I had visited the KECC a couple weeks prior. Several children ran up to me and said, “You came and read to us.” I was amazed that four and five year olds remembered me. The KECC graciously invited me to read to children as part of their annual “Hopathon.” Participants in the Hopathon had to hop to raise awareness of Muscular Dystrophy. One activity had children sit in wheelchairs and figure out how to manuever them. It was cool to see. I was very impressed with Barretts Elementary School’s Ability Awareness Day a couple weeks ago. They had several different presenters speaking about different abilities. They even had a session with the school’s occupational therapist, teaching the students about different abilities and ways to be more productive. The group made a “Fidget tool,” to help them focus during class. Here’s a picture of the fidget tool.
Things have definitely changed. When I was in school, the teacher would take away the object I used to fidget. Then I couldn’t focus on what the teacher was saying. Now the schools realize fidgeting helps students pay attention and be more productive. They had more stations with activities for the children to get some of their access energy out so they can relax and learn. They had another station with M&Ms and large tweezers. The children picked up the M&Ms with the tweezers to help with their motor skills. I LOVE to participate in Ability Awareness Days!!! We are educating them younger and younger. It’s outstanding!!! In New York City a couple weeks ago, I attended a family services workshop in Brooklyn put on by Resources for Children with Special Needs. Gary Shulman did an outstanding job letting parents know about a wide range of programs out there to help them. If you are in NYC and need anything at all for your child, contact Resources for Children with Special Needs. I wish they were nationwide. In other news, my husband and I are expecting our first child in November. We are so excited!!! Wendy on Wheels Saves the Day has officially been launched!!!April 5th, 2011Sunday afternoon, I had my launch party for Wendy on Wheels Saves the Day at All Along Press. It was such a wonderful event. Thank you to everyone who came. I appreciate your support and love for Wendy on Wheels. Excellent food from Cherokee Street Catering. Everyone loved the barbequed chicken pizza!
The reading went well. I said thank you to my cousin, Dana for taking Elizabeth and me around Cardinal Glennon to see what the inside of a children’s hospital looks like. Dana is cartoonized on page 21 of Wendy on Wheels Saves the Day. Things have been going well for Wendy on Wheels. I have some Ability Awareness Days lined up for April at some local schools. I’m working on setting up some schools visits in Peoria, IL and Chicago the third week in April. I’m working on getting t-shirts made. They might be available to the general public if people are interested. I was not chosen as a finalist in the Energizer Competition. I’m still excited I was nominated as a semifinalist. Thank you to everyone who voted for me!!! I will have the cover for Wendy on Wheels Takes a Stand in a week or so. I saw The Celebrity Apprentice on Sunday. Marlee did a outstanding job as project manager! Go Marlee!! Meat Loaf had a meltdown on Gary Busey. I couldn’t believe that. YIKES!!! HERE SHE COMES TO SAVE THE DAY!!!March 2nd, 2011Wendy on Wheels Saves the Day features two characters that were inspired by a mother, Amy, and her son, Eli. Amy has commented on my blog and is a facebook friend. On my first blog, she gave a suggestion about having a little boy who is nonverbal in future books. I started reading her blog. I saw some pictures of when Eli was in the hospital. The love they shared was radiating out of the photos. His smile was amazing! When I was writing Wendy on Wheels Saves the Day, I made sure to include Eli and Amy. I just read Amy’s latest blog about the book. WOW!! It feels wonderful to touch someone I’ve never actually met, in a different part of the country. Here’s a picture Amy sent me. Eli fell asleep while his dad was reading it to him.
Self publishing makes all this possible. It’s wonderful! I control the whole look of every page in the book. So, why not make the image resemble the people who inspired it? I celebrated Dr. Suess’s birthday with the World Premiere Author Reading of Wendy on Wheels Saves the Day at Southview Special Education School. Wendy on Wheels was a hit at Southview! Since it was the first time I’ve read this book out loud, my delivery was a little choppy. The audience still enjoyed it. Well, Wendy on Wheels Saves the Day was released last week. It came out of couple weeks earlier than expected. I’m so excited about it. The Friday before last when I got the proof copy, I was so happy I was almost crying. This is the book I wanted to write for the last year. It looks better than I imagined! Books are available on Amazon. If you’d like to order autographed copies, please email me. I can ship them out to you. Welcome, Wendy on Wheels!February 16th, 2011What a welcome!! The kids in the Adventure Club at Bristol Elementary made this. Cool, huh? Aren’t they cute? These visits are amazing!! I love reading to kids. Last week was a good week for public relations. The St. Louis Post Dispatch mentioned Wendy on Wheels in an article about Blades Day of Giving. A little boy said Wendy on Wheels was his favorite. I had a great interview with Publishing Coach Shelley Hitz. If you are interesting in self publishing, please take a look at her site. She has a lot of good information on there. Wendy on Wheels Saves the Day was submitted for publishing late last week. I’m waiting to receive the proof copy. I’m so excited to get it. I’m working on the launch party. Book four has been discussed and is in progress as well. More information will be given at a later date. Just know that it is coming… I’m really excited about this one as well. Everyday SuperheroesFebruary 1st, 2011It’s Snowpocalypse in St. Louis. I’ve been hearing the ice hit my windows for the last few hours. I just finished putting Wendy on Wheels Saves the Day together. Now I just need to get it over to the designers. This book is the book I wanted to write and publish since I started the series, but wasn’t fully ready. Niether I nor the audience was ready. I have Wendy dressed up a superhero to symbolize everyday people who do great things and make our lives better. In this story, Wendy feels an overwhelming desire to make other people smile. Here are some examples of heroes in my life. I appreciate these people very much. Despite what’s going on in their lives, these people still do what they can to make this world a better place. Even if some of the above are “doing their jobs,” they are still helping others. We need to take time to be grateful for people who make our lives better. So tell me, who are some superheroes in your life? Wendy on Wheels Goes to the Zoo has been rolled out!!!December 1st, 2010My official launch party for Wendy on Wheels Goes to the Zoo was Sunday, November 21st at Foam Coffee and Beer in St. Louis. I go to Foam to work on the books a lot, so I figured it would be a good place to have my release event.
I was so excited to meet Brandon O’Harver, who won the contest to name Wendy’s companion in the book. He was so sweet! It was so cool that he agreed to sign books!
Brandon, Illustrator Elizabeth Gearhart, my sister Amanda, (who inspired the Wendy character) and I signed books.
The release party was wonderful!! Thank you to Cherokee Street Catering for providing delicious snacks for the event. I loved the Rueben triangles the best!! I had a special gift for Brandon. Brandon received a beautiful, watercolor painting of Wendy and Brandon by Wendy on Wheels’s illustrator, Elizabeth Gearhart. Here is Elizabeth, Brandon and me.
At 3:30, I read my brand new book to the crowd. Foam was standing room only.
I’m so grateful that I had a successful launch for Wendy on Wheels Goes to the Zoo. It was a fantastic event! I felt blessed to see so many people who support Wendy on Wheels!!! Thank you to everyone who came!!! In honor of Brandon, a portion of the book sales of Wendy on Wheels Goes to the Zoo will be donated to the Muscular Dystropy Association. If you haven’t already, please order a copy of Wendy on Wheels Goes to the Zoo. |
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