Want to know more about autism?

 

Would you like to know more about autism? One way you can do that is by coming to see me and my books at the Sydenham market as above. I will be there with all my children's autism books as well as my picture books and information about my new SEN workshops. All books are at a discount for in person events. Come and say hello and ask a question, if you wish to. Hopefully it won't rain too much on the day. 

Billy is having a book tour

 Who is Billy, you might ask? He is Billy from my first Rainbow School children's book called 'Billy and the Sparkling Socks.' He, and the others in the series, are all in stock at a bookshop called The Book Dragon based in Stockton on Tees. This week Billy's story is having a book tour. There is a great window display promoting the book (check the website www.thebookdragon.co.uk) and see for yourself. So far this week reviewers have mentioned their favourite quotes and character summaries from the book. Here are a few

Quotes: 

“I am good at something!” Billy shouted. He stood up, scraping his chair back. “What?” Casper challenged him. “Don’t know. I will find out.” (Andrew Bell)

Even though his socks hadn’t acted strange, he had done amazing things today. (Deborah Barwick)
“So my motto is, to find out what makes you happy and what you can be good at and work on that. Only then will you be happy with who you are.” (Tania Marshall)

Character summaries

Billy is a delightful young boy who blossoms throughout the course of the story. Initially he feels frustrated by the limitations he feels due to his condition of Autism. He has an older brother who seems to be good at everything and classmates that make fun of him. As he starts to focus on what he can do and where his talents lie, a transformation starts to happen. By looking for the positives and gaining confidence and faith in his abilities, he starts to shine and gain respect from his mother, teachers and  peers. I felt moved by Billy’s realisation that what he really lacked was self-belief and the courage to be who he truly was. As this dawns on him he starts to fly and fulfill his full potential. I could just picture him telling his stories in class and I could relate to the joy he felt from creating them, as I too loved to do this as a child. I loved how Billy showed warmth and kindness to others, even though he hadn’t always received them himself. He’s willing to help out his brother when he starts to struggle, despite how his brother has mocked him for his own difficulties in the past. (Michelle Marshall)

I related with the character, Billy. Being disabled myself, I know just how hard it is to find something you’re good at. Also, being disabled I can relate how hard it is to fit in, I know what it’s like to be laughed at, I also know the challenge of finding something you’re good at. Being autistic, Billy would’ve had a much bigger challenge in this. I was so impressed with his finding that he could tell stories, act them out, and make people laugh. He didn’t think Miss Murray and his classmates were laughing at him. Good job, Billy! (Deb Hockenberry)

So, I hope that the above will get you interested to either read the book yourself, or buy it for a small relative (7-9) that might want to read it for Christmas. There are now three places you can buy the books: The Book Dragon shop (in store or on line), Amazon or my website. 

Why I love being an indie author

 I am sorry I haven't been on here these past few months, but if you know me on Facebook you will know why. For those who aren't, then the short story is that my health took a bad turn and I had to go into hospital. I had to have major heart surgery to replace a heart valve and a pacemaker fitted. I was in for nearly 8 weeks. I came home to an empty house because while I was in hospital, my mum had a fall and ended up in another hospital herself. She is back home now but bed bound with carers coming in to do her personal care and meals four times a day. I am still recovering but back to writing as an indie author. One of the reasons I love being an indie author is you are only accountable to yourself and when something happens like the above and you can't write, then it is a relief. 

Apart from a couple of ideas for short stories I jotted down pre-surgery, I didn't do any writing. I couldn't. It took so much effort to recover and get moving by myself again. It was only when I was home and after a couple of weeks when I read writing magazines that I thought about writing. Before I went into hospital I was half way through writing a cozy mystery but I didn't fancy writing that. I started reading children's books and decided that I wanted to write something new like that. I already had a few ideas jotted down. One came to me but it was all muddled in my mind. Then I saw a second idea and it jumped out at me. This is what I am now writing. A new series for 7-9s. I am enjoying writing again.

A reason I love being an indie author, you can write what you want and when. Imagine what might have happened if I was under a traditional publisher and writing that book... I will go back to working on the mystery some time but I am having fun writing for children, esp when the characters have Asperger's. It is under my 'autism meets magical realism' brand and 'learn about autism' umbrella.

Enjoy what you are writing and have fun with it.