Glenda's Book Update #7

August 2006

Hi,

My left thumb, my typing thumb, is doing the happy dance - my manuscript is now with the editor! Yippee-yahooey! However, the work for my autobiography is nowhere near being finished. I now need to apply for my ISBN, Cataloguing in Publication, and find a local printer so that I have actual books on hand for the book launch on November 4th. I am beginning to realize writing the darn thing was the easy part! Before I can do all this, I need to decide upon the final title. Although “I’ll Do It Myself” is definitely the main title, I’m still undecided on the subtitle. I have brainstormed some title ideas on my blog and welcome your thoughts.

My goal is to have all these tasks (and many more!) completed by the end of September. And then in October, hit the publicity trail hard, particularly at the grassroots level. I am looking to be interviewed by bloggers, to write brief articles for newsletters (print and electronic), to garner local newspaper coverage and such. Grassroots publicity much like how Robert, the web media guy from the Easter Seals' Camp ASSCA (Alabama's Special Camp for Children and Adults), kindly wrote I Found Our New Role Model :: Glenda Watson Hyatt on their camp blog. I am sincerely grateful for this kind of support and I look forward to building a relationship with Camp ASSCA. Thanks again, Robert!

As my amazingly supportive readers, this is one area I could really use your assistance, please: to locate these kinds of publicity opportunities to promote my book. Perhaps you, your place of employment, or an organization you are affilated with, has a blog or newsletter that may be interested in including a piece about my soon to be released autobiography. Simply drop me an email at Glenda@BooksbyGlenda.com with any ideas or suggestions you may have. I look forward to hearing from you.

Now onto this month's book excerpt. This particular incident happened on one of my family's weekend camping trips, back when I was in about grade four or five, many moons ago:

The early years were happy times for us. We did many things together as a family. In the late spring and summer months, we went camping in our tent trailer, often on weekends.

On one weekend camping trip, I guess we had barely finished eating and I was still sitting in my wheelchair at one end of the picnic table, with my tray still attached to my wheelchair. A cheeky squirrel scampered on to the table, searching for scraps. He neared my end of the table. I sat still – not an easy task with athetoid cp. He ventured onto the corner of my tray, long enough to leave his footprints on my white tray. I was so excited! That was my Show n Tell for Monday morning. Mom witnessed the whole encounter. I wouldn’t let her wipe off the tray for the rest of the weekend.

Monday morning Mom dropped me off in my classroom, putting the tray in the corner with the other ones, and then headed down the hall to her room – she was a Special Ed teacher in the same school. The aide came in and, noticing the dirt on my tray, she dutifully took it to the sink to wash it off, as I watched, too afraid to say anything because she probably wouldn’t understand me; after all, I’m non-verbal. Very disappointed, I watched as my Show n Tell got washed down the sink.

As I mentioned last month, nothing bad happens to writers; it is all material! I may not have been able to share the squirrel footprints that Monday, but I can share the story with you now. Life is good.

Lastly, thank you to those who have emailed me with comments about these excerpts. I have added a few testimonials to my site - scroll part way down the page to read them. Your feedback is always welcomed.

Thanks again for your support and for believing in my dream. I truly appreciate it.

Until next time...please feel free to forward this to friends and colleagues...

Cheers,
Glenda