It's Here!

As my faithful blog followers already know, I’ve been working on a labor of love called Betty Tales, The True Story of a Brave Bobblehead Cat.  Its a touching, inspirational book for children about a disabled cat, Betty, and her successes in life.

 

Betty was adopted by my family as a stray kitten. I kept relating her trials, successes and funny ways of approaching her “cat-ness” to my best friend, Becky, a third-grade teacher. Becky suggested I put those stories into a book that could help teach children about how alike all of us – disabled and not – are inside as well as how much determination and persistence can matter in facing any challenge. Betty Tales is the result.

She was born with a condition called “cerebellar hypoplasia.”  That’s the five dollar word.   The twenty-five cent phrase is that Betty is a “bobblehead“ cat.  It’s a funny sounding name for something not quite so funny.

Betty doesn’t have the same control over her muscles as a “normal” cat. She can’t leap or jump and she wobbles when she walks. The part of her brain that controls her muscles didn’t develop well because her mom had a virus. Though disabled, Betty is fiercely (and funnily) independent and proud of doing things on her own. In a lot of ways, she’s not all that different from other cats. Perhaps just like disabled people?

Things that are easy for other cats are difficult for Betty. She has trouble climbing the stairs in my house, but not only can she do so, she insists on it. She is persistent and determined when she does so.  It takes her a while, but, she climbs those stairs!

You can go to my website, www.BettyTales.com, to read more about Betty.  There are pictures of her and a video or two.  Then, order the book. Or you can head directly to my Createspace site HERE and order the book.

As an enticement to help launch the book, anyone who leaves a comment here AND signs the guest book at www.BettyTales.com before midnight June 18, 2012 will be eligible to win a free autographed copy! If you refer a friend to www.BettyTales.com and have them post on this blog post who sent them, you’ll get TWO entries! If you post a review on Amazon.com, you’ll get another TWO entries! If you’ve already ordered a book, thank you! And please go ahead and enter my launch contest anyway. You’ll receive your choice of an autographed book to give away OR a $10.00 Amazon gift card instead.

Do you know someone who has their own “stairs” to conquer?

This heartwarming story can be an inspiration to you, your child or grandchild.  Warm their day by getting them their very own copy of Betty Tales.

Now, go find your own stairs and climb them!

Watch This Space!

     Okay, I don't mean literally. I think your eyes would get awful tired. But I do have some exciting news and am going to have a fantastic 2012. The booklet I wrote for the Historic Hartman House has been selling hand over foot and has had some great reviews - even from family members who would actually know if I've flubbed something or not and would not hesitate to let me know! So, I've moved on to finalize the next project on my list... "Betty Tales."

Betty

     My cat Betty, is a wild bundle of black fur and green eyes who happens to be disabled. I join a friend for walks several times a week and after a year of me sharing stories about the latest crazy thing Ms. Betty did, the friend suggested I write a children's book about the antics of the little princess. My friend teaches writing to third graders and thought it would be a great way to teach children about disabilities. Never one to turn down a creative idea if it's jumping up and down and waving in front of my face, I wrote the story.

     My part of the book was finished in draft about a month ago and received a detailed critique from the members of The Magnificent Mensa Scribes. It's now been polished up to a nice shine. The next step was to find an illustrator.

     The same friend who got me into this mess, umm.... suggested I write this book, happened to know a young woman with tremendous talent whose fingers were itching to illustrate a project just like this! We met. We clicked. She's working on drawings as I type and I'm looking forward to seeing the preliminary sketches in a week or so.

     Bottom line is that the book is expected to be finished by the end of the year. We're planning to self-publish it in e-book and hard copy in January, 2012.

     Next week, I'll go back to my little history geek niche and write something about Florida, but I had to share this news and I hope that you, my friends and faithful readers, will celebrate with me at the end of January.