Oregon Association of School Libraries Conference

A week ago I attended the OASL (Oregon Association of School Libraries) conference in Seaside, Oregon. I met lots of great people and made several new connections. Going into the schools is great fun. It is a marketing tool for my book, but not a big “selling thing”. I share my book "I Can’t See, But…I Can Imagine" and its CD with the idea the children have their own stories and can use their own imagine. I give them lots of tips on writing and explain the steps from writing the story to getting a book published. At the conference I met the winner of the 2007 Newbery Medal – Susan Patron. That was a treat!

Leaving a Legacy

I have been invited to be the main speaker at a women's Christian retreat in June. It is a three day deal. The theme is "Leaving a Legacy" This is the kind of thing I go to each year with my church, but there are REAL speakers that speak! I have been to 36 schools talking to children with encouragement to write and I have had several speaking engagements sharing my grandmother's story, but not for three sessions! I am thinking about possibly naming the first day "Leaving a Family Legacy" and the next day "Leaving a Christian Legacy" Possibly I can get the audience to participate the third day. I am certainly no expert. God’s going to have to help me with this……again. I would appreciate any input on this from my blogger friends!

"Special Need" like Blindness

Not long ago I was signing books in a local book store. A young woman with two children and one on the way walked into the store. She had already purchased a book and wanted me to sign it. She said, "Let me tell you something! My husband has been blind from birth. There is very little out there for children with a positive story about a blind person. My children adore this book and the music. I just wanted you to know."

It is nice to know that people enjoy knowing that a person with a "special need" like blindness can have a great life.