Kirkwood's Writers Workshop October 2002

The Keystone Nursing Care Center board paid for a Writer's Workshop for me, because I won an essay and a photography contest in 2002. A packet of information came in the mail about Kirkwood's Writer's Workshop in Cedar Rapids. I chose the classes I wanted for the five days in October. Later on, I received a schedule of classes and instructions about what to bring for each class. My younger brother had taught computer courses in that building for several years and still does. At the time, I wished I knew which classroom was his. I wanted to leave a note that said John's sister Fay has been here.

I walked in and introduced myself to get checked off the list. The woman in charge of the workshop was standing nearby. She said she wanted to meet me. She couldn't believe that a nursing home would pay the fee for me to attend the workshop. She wasn't the only one. I kept thinking I was dreaming and would wake up before the workshop started. I was amazed at how many people in this area were aspiring authors. Attendance for the workshop was good.

Most of the students left during lunch break. Not me. I brought lunch with me. I wasn't leaving and risk that I wouldn't make it back for the first afternoon class on time. I went to my car to eat the first day. The car was cold so I ate fast and went back in. On Tuesday, I sat by a woman who asked if I'd like to eat lunch with her in the break room.

One class instructor worked at Rockwell Collins. He set a small object on the corner of our table in the dark. He asked us to describe what we saw, took the object away and turned on the lights. We had a few minutes. Most of the students did just as he asked. They did a detailed description of what they thought they saw in the dark. The instructor read what we handed in. When he got to mine, he sounded surprised when he said I'd written a story. Clearly not the response he had expected. The next time I was in his class he had a statue on the table. I've forgotten the name, but the bearded man in a robe on an oxen. Each student was to add a sentence to a story about the figure. Now I usually have to take my time and give thought to what I intend to write, but I held my own with my sentences. It was fun to see the final story.

In June of this year, I was invited to author day at Anamosa, Iowa's library. One of the authors looked familiar to me. I connected him to the Workshop, but seven years is a long time. I could be wrong. Finally, I asked him if he'd been at the workshop. He was. I told him I was one of his students. The instructor who worked at Rockwell Collins said he remembered me. That surprised me with so many students in the classes, but I thought maybe I had impressed him with my writing ability. No, it was my distinctive voice that he remembered. Funny, that is just how everyone I meet say they remember me - my voice.

Another class was first page of first chapter. I took the first chapter in my children's book "My Children Are More Precious Than Gold". The instructor was a woman from California that had grown up in Cedar Rapids. She made her living editing children books. The first class, she asked each of us to describe our main character. I shared I had 13 of them. She said, "You can't do that." My reply, "I did." No, that isn't the way it works. You have to pick one character to build the story around. Work on that and by the next class she'd look at my writing. The last class went by so fast the instructor barely had time to look at the first paragraphs. A surprised look on her face and a darted glance at me and she read my paragraph out loud. This is what she read.

In the Blue Ridge Mountains near Riner, Virginia, the Bishop family listened to a January blizzard. With a sound akin to the wail of a prowling panther, the wind announced a snowstorm's approach to the hollow before it pounced on the log cabin.


The instructor said my writing sounded like a movie opening. Did I mean for it to sound that way? I said I write like I hear it in my head. She went on to the next student. On the last day, the instructor and I passed each other. She stopped me and ask me to let her know if I had any success with my book. She was interested even if I had not solved the dilemma of who would be the main character. Wow!

I took with me my "Open A Window" book that I'd printed myself. In one class a writing instructor for Kirkwood taught us how to write a query letter and gave advice about publishing. I pulled out my book. The instructor said I should find a way to get the book in doctors office waiting rooms. So far that hasn't happened. But the book has been a success with families needing help and for training CNAs which is even better.

Another class was taught by a English professor at Iowa. My class with him was right after lunch on Monday. Remember I ate fast and came back from the car. I walked into the dark room to find the professor during nap time with his head on the table. I thought about leaving, then decided maybe I should very quietly sit down and wait for the other students to come. After all I had the seat I wanted, far enough away from the instructor to suit me. Before the students showed up, the professor woke up. Right away he began to question me about why I was in his class. (I'm guessing he wanted to take my mind off finding him asleep.) He said he had a group of students that came to his house to work on their writing. I slid my "Open A Window" book down the table to him. He made a quick pass through it and sounded amazed when he said, "Now that was a book." Nondescript as a compliment but the sound of his voice was good enough to bolster my confidence.

Don Harstad, Iowa author of five Sam Houseman series about a deputy sheriff, gave lectures about his success in writing. His first book was named "Eleven Days" because he wrote it in 11 days. He sent his manuscript out for several years before a publisher picked it up. He quit his lawman job and went to writing full time. A movie company bought the rights for a period of time to make a movie from his book but that hinged on getting a script writer. The time was about to run out without a script writer finishing the movie script. I don't know what happened next. Everyone enjoyed this colorful character. Don was good at holding an audience's attention.

An agent was there. We spent some time with her one afternoon, describing what our books were about. She seemed interested in mine. In fact, she was the one who gave me the idea when she said my mystery with an elderly woman as the character was like Miss Marple. If anyone in the audience wanted to send a manuscript for her to look at they needed to put on it they were at the workshop to get a free critique. I sent mine to her. Got a note to call her. She picked my manuscript apart and rightly so. For anymore, she wanted $2000, and she sent me a contract. One clause said when she went to a book fair to push my manuscript I'd pay for her plane ticket and expenses. I called Kirkwood to ask the woman in charge of the workshop if this was a legit agent. She didn't know so she called Don Harstad and ask him if he'd talk to me if I called him. He said yes and gave her his phone number for me to use. He had an agent. The good agents don't ask for money up front. Some might ask for reimbursement after they had sent the manuscript to publishers or made calls to cover those expenses. Others would take the postage or phone calls from your royalty when you got a publisher. I declined the contract, feeling lucky that I checked with Don before I signed it. Better yet, I used the agents critique to make my story better.

On Friday afternoon, anyone could stand up and read something they wrote. I picked the essay that got me sent to the Workshop -- "A Woman For Four Seasons" The woman in charge introduced each of us that participated in the reading. When my turn came, she made sure to say I was given the Workshop by the nursing home I worked at. She still couldn't figure out how that happened. I could tell the students appreciated my essay whether it was the writing or the subject matter I don't know. Maybe a little of both.

Each day, something new surprised and amazed me. I learned so much and found it a good confidence builder to be around other writers. Some of them were far ahead of me with their goals and others were not. At night, I came home and called the administrator to tell her how the day went for me. I don't know when I have or ever will again be as excited about an event in my life. I was ready to try the workshop the next year which had been cut down to three days at the end of the week. Sent in my fee and was disappointed to get it back. Not enough interest in 2003. What happened to all those writers?

An Exciting Opportunity

I never dreamed that I would find myself at a writer's workshop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in October 2002. First of all, I didn't think I was good enough at writing to put up the tuition of $400. To go to a writer's workshop such as that I thought meant I not only needed to be serious about wanting to be an author (which I was) but be able to hold my own with other writers in the classes. I didn't have one bit of confidence in myself, but Keystone Nursing Care Center did. For the administrator and board giving me such a wonderful opportunity I will be always grateful.

Here is what lead to my going to that workshop. The organization that many Iowa nursing homes are a member of had an essay contest each year and a photography contest. The essay had to be 500 words about a resident in the nursing home without mentioning the resident or nursing home. In 2001, I and others at the nursing home wrote an essay. The nursing home's Senior Advocate committee had to pick a winner. I won so my entry went to the essay contest. Out of all the state entries, I won with "Floating Feathers Of Yesterdays". The head of the organization came to Keystone to present me with a $100 check at a reception the nursing home had for me. My essay was in several of the local newspapers.

That win gave me the incentive to try again the next year. So out of the essays submitted at the nursing home mine was again picked. "A Woman For All Seasons" is about a woman who had lived on her small farm, taking care of her cattle for as long as she was able. I admired her for how she had lived her life her way. While I was entering contests, I thought I might as well enter the photography contest. So I picked the woman I wrote the essay about as my subject. In the spring for years, I'd take a lamb and goat to the nursing home to show the residents. That year I took along a bottle of milk. I set the lamb in front of the woman's recliner and handed her the bottle. In the picture, we could see the pure pleasure she experienced while feeding that lamb. The picture title said it all -- "Bottle Full Of Memories".

The contest results call came one evening while I was working. The nurse had okayed it with the administrator to break the news to me. She mumbled that I had won the contests. Figuring the nurse wasn't too up on what I had entered, I said, "Which one?" She just grinned at me. Suddenly her choice of plural "contests" hit me. I squeaked, "Both of them" "Yes!" The contests were judged blind so the judges had no way of knowing that I submitted both the essay and the photo until after they picked the winner. Nor did they realize right away that I had won the essay contest the year before. This was all cause for excitement at the nursing home.

Also, the double wins brought on another reception. A newly hired communication director came from West Des Moines to present me with certificates and a check for $200. I had the woman in my essay and photo up front to be with me. I presented her with a bouquet of flowers to thank her for being my subject matter. She was delighted to be the center of attention until she asked what time it was. She'd already missed five minutes of "The Young And The Restless" and nothing was more important that that soap opera.

For winning the contest I was about to receive a gift from the nursing home. I could not believe it when the administrator gave me the information that the board wanted me to pursue my writing and work on getting better. They paid for the Writer's Workshop as a gift for winning the contests which is good PR for the nursing home. I was excited and nervous all rolled into one and had several weeks to worry about what I was getting into.

The communication director said when she presented me the certificates that I was a very good writer. She was impressed. With that to encourage me, I said if I could find another resident that was essay material I'd enter again next year and try for win number three. That wasn't to be. Months in advance, I came up with an essay and polished it. When the contest rules came, a new one had been add. Last year's winner could not enter. (I had prewarned the communication director.) The next year I again had an entry ready to go and found the contest had been dropped. Maybe not enough participation. That didn't stop me from writing my essays about the residents. One became a eulogy at a resident's visitation and funeral. A story about my mother was purchased by "Good Old Days" Magazine. Quite a few of my essays have placed in other contests. Best of all, I gave the residents a copy of the essays. Their families were delighted to read a story about their loved one.

Update: The National Novel Writing Month contest is over. I only had about half the 50,000 words I need to enter. I loved the challenge but just didn't have the time to stay at the computer. Now I'm looking forward to next November. I'm ready to try again.

Now come back Thursday. I'll tell you about the Kirkwood Writer's Workshop.

November Novel Contest Month

Na No Wri Mo Sounds like words to an African tribal dance if I didn't know better. In 2007, I read about this National Novel Writing Month contest which takes place in November. This contest has been happening since 1999. Thanks to the internet the amount of contestants, called NaNoers, went from 21 in 1999 to 94,000 in 2007.

This year I decided to check into the details. The contest is free to enter. At the end of the month I would have to have fifty thousand words to finish in the contest. Then in December the novel can be edited and polished. A winner is picked from the entries. There is a list of writers that have had a novel published after entering it in this contest.

From what I read the authors are winging their story. They aren't expected to know where the novel is going, but every day just pick up where they left off. Don't worry about a chapter by chapter plot synopsis or an outline. This approach to writing is not new to me. It's the way I approached all my books. The secret is in going back to rework the story, edit and polish it into a work you can be proud to have your name on.

On a whim I entered the 6th of November. So I was already five days behind which worried me. I tried to tell myself two thousands words a day doesn't sound like a lot for me. Once I made up for those six days that is, fifty thousand words should be no problem. Little did I know that this would be one of those months when I would be gone at least half of the thirty days. Little things have gotten in the way of my writing a novel like a wedding, book signing, dental visits and now Thanksgiving.

Several November days, I spent most of the afternoon emailing libraries in Iowa, Missouri and Pennsylvania to let them know about my two Amish books listed in Ingram Distribution Catalog. In the email I mentioned that I had an online bookstore that all my books can be purchased from, thinking that libraries could go to the website to look at the books. Maybe even buy books from my site.

Quite an undertaking to do that many emails when I realized how many libraries there were in each state. Made me glad for copy and paste. For Iowa, I mentioned that I lived here. As for Missouri, I had emailed the libraries last year when I published my Civil War book which is a fact/fiction book based in Vernon County, Missouri. Maybe they will remember me. Maybe not. I've been told many emails about new books target libraries. As for Pennsylvania, residents buy my Amish books more than any other state. One theme that was on most library sites in that state was the fact state funding had been cut for libraries which meant their budgets had to be reduced. This didn't sound like a good time to be advertising books for sale, but my self published, paperback books are inexpensive compared to books from publishers that are sold in bookstores. Perhaps, a library's reduced budget would be a reason to buy my books. Now I wait and see. If I have any luck with these libraries, I still have 48 states to go.


There's something to be said for incentive. Being in the NaNoWriMo contest has given me that. I had the story line all plotted in my head for some time but advertising and starting the new website had kept me from getting started on the book. Now I am well under way. Maybe not far enough along for NaNoWriMo, but looking forward to releasing it sometime next year.

Thanksgiving is upon us. As with many family gatherings, relatives have to travel. We go to Marion to my younger brother's for lunch. As usual, he has barbecued turkey on the menu. Not such an undertaking the way he does it. The grill is in the garage out of the wind. There's a thermometer inserted in the turkey that transmit to a sensor in the kitchen so he can watch the rising temperature. Once or twice, my brother runs outside to check briefly just to be on the safe side. The rest of the time he is visiting with us and watching a parade.

For the evening meal, we rush forty miles or so from Marion to Belle Plaine to my husband's mother's house for another big meal. Sometimes I think it was a mistake to put Thanksgiving and Christmas so close on the calendar. We no sooner get our appetites back from Thanksgiving and Christmas comes with more food. Come to think of it. We are truly blessed and should count our blessings every day. We have our families close and plenty to eat.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and travel safe. I'll be back next Tuesday.

A New Member In Our Family

Just to prove I don't think about writing books or selling them all the time, I'm going to tell you about a wedding I attended last weekend.

Remember my blog about going to a bridal shower in October for my husband's niece. Last Saturday afternoon, the 14th, was the wedding. This was at St. Paul Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A beautiful, old church in the round with a cornerstone dated 1913.

However, the understated, lovely wedding ceremony took place in the chapel. It was a ceremony that reminded me of yesteryears with simple, not too expensive planning. No attendants and only family from both sides to witness the event. The bride was absolutely gorgeous in her bridal gown, holding a bouquet of red roses and the groom very handsome in his tuxedo. Though the bride planned 99% of the wedding and reception, by the groom's own admission, these two are well grounded young people who wanted to keep the ceremony simple.

The reception was for friends as well as family and a tribute to how popular the newlyweds are by how crowded the room was. The food was delicious. The four flavored multa tiered square cake was decorative as well as flavors for everyone. I hear there was one tier of lemon. By the time I got to the cake table the lemon cake was gone.

The reception was held on Mt. Vernon Road in a rustic area. A man went out in the parking lot for a breath of fresh air and swears he saw a five point buck meandering between the cars. Deer are thick everywhere in the area, but he was the only eye witness to a hunter's dream of a five point buck.

Our celebration with the newlyweds didn't stop with the reception. Since we were going to be in Cedar Rapids for a book signing the next day at Lemstone Christian Bookstore, we were invited to the couple's for a soup supper and the wedding gift opening.

It's nice to see the groom feels right at home as a member of this family, but then he has had five years to let us get use to him. He likes to tease, and I hear he can be a joker. I too like to tease so we should get along fine.

As we were putting on our coats to leave Sunday evening, I said I had gotten used to having two free suppers in a row on the newlyweds. What time was supper on Monday? The groom said he would set a bucket on the outside by the door. I would be expected to make a donation before I entered. I told him I knew meals on him was a good thing that was too good to last.

We look forward to seeing this busy couple on holidays and any time in between they want to visit.

After The Book Signing

Book Signing

Sunday was a good day for me as an author. What's better than a book signing in a bookstore, sitting with three other authors. I feel like I have much I need to know about being an author and I always learn from conversations with other writers and book buyers. Since my topic - Alzheimer's - is a heavy one I always hope that I helped a caregiver or someone struggling with the prospect of dementia in their future.

There were four of us with stacks of books in front of us. Kent Stock, Marion, Iowa, the coach from "The Final Season" fame has written a book along the same lines titled "Heading For Home". Karen Roth, Austin Texas, has a new, sequel, fictional book titled "My Portion Forever". Her first book is "Found On 16th Avenue" which is set in Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where she grew up. A doctor, Mary Ann Nelson has a book on child care and one on Elder Care. My books were about Alzheimer's - "Open A Window - Alzheimer's Caregiver Handbook" ISBN 1438244991 and "Hello Alzheimer's Good Bye Dad - A Daughter's Journal" ISBN 1438278276

On one end of the table, Karen Roth had a built in following because she grew up in Czech Village. You may remember that is the area hit by the flood in 2008. Old friends and relatives, along with customers who had her first book, lined up to greet her and buy books so she could sign them.

On the other end, Kent Stock had customers who remembered the Norway baseball team as I did or were sports fans. I bought one of Kent's books because I am remember those exciting days in Norway. (Besides I wanted his autograph). I could get the signed book on his website but that wasn't the same as in person. And I told him I might not ever get to see him again. He said now that I said that we would probably run into each other several times. I said, "Hopefully at another book signing." I'm ready.

Next to me on the other side was Dr. Nelson. She seemed interested in my books and my foundation for writing such books. I'm always willing to explain my years of working with people who had Alzheimer's and some of what I was taught by my experiences.

Three customers stood nearby discussing what they liked to read. I over heard one lady say she read all the Amish books she could find. When Mary Ann Nelson asked me what else I had written I was telling her about my two Amish books. I heard the customer expel an OH! As if she was thinking there is more books that might interest her. With so much going on around me, I'm hoping she picked up one of my business cards and plans to follow up on my books.

Between customers the four of us authors had a few moments to learn about each other and our books and writing and publishing experiences. We exchanged websites so here are the ones you should check out if you like to help out Iowa authors.

Kent Stock - www.kentstock.com
Karen Roth - www.karenrothbooks.com
Fay Risner - www.booksbyfaybookstore.weebly.com
Dr. Nelson doesn't have a website for her books but you can ask for them at Lemstone Christian Bookstore in Collins Plaza, Cedar Rapids, Iowa and I'm sure many other places. The large, hard cover books are full of educational information designed to help.

Me -- Interesting?

I now have the information about the other authors that will be with me at the Nov. 15th book signing at the Lemstone Christian Bookstore in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This week I visited the store to talk to the owner about the book signing. While I was there I found out what I needed to know to report accurately about the authors. Kent Stock, Marion, Ia, from "The Final Season" fame has written "Heading For Home." His story about being a successful coach, teacher and business man. Karen Roth, San Antonio, Texas and formally from Cedar Rapids, Ia has her second book out. "My Portion Forever". Her first book is "Found On 16th Avenue". She writes about growing up in Czech Village in Cedar Rapids which last year was in the devastating flood.



When I can get the Internet to cooperate with me, I'm back writing blogs on a new monitor the size of a small television instead of the very small, ten year old screen I was using. I can't believe what a difference screen size makes when I'm staring at it for a long period of time. Not that there is that much wrong with my eyesight as long as I wear my glasses. The fact is I'm feeling great, busy and full of purpose. It took a visit with a young neighbor girl to get me thinking about the generational gap between her and me and to bring this gap into prospective.


When I answered the phone one evening recently, I had to ask the caller to repeat her name. I want you to know I'm not hard of hearing. I'd heard right the first time, but I was too surprised to believe I had. It was the fourteen year old neighbor who lives in seeing distance of my home.

It seemed over night I watched her change from baby to toddler to an energetic child to a bashful preteen that didn't speak when she came with her father to visit. Now a teenager, she was still very quiet this summer with a look on her face that said she would run for home if we spoke to her.

Her father described her as his Tomboy. Her attire was a shirt and jeans. Dresses were for a rare occasion. Most likely an occasion deemed appropriate by her mother. She went with her father to the barn to help with chores until she was old enough to do them on her own. Her love of animals led to her taking care of a flock of sheep and a horse. She worked with a lamb so she could enter the sheep exhibits at the county fair.

Out of the blue, she called me and got right to the point. "I have to write a story about someone for English Lit. I want to interview you for the story."

Not comprehending why she would call me for her assignment, I said, "Okay, but why me?"

"Because I think you're interesting," she said.

I must admit I was baffled by that statement. We set up a time for her to come late one afternoon after school on a day between cheerleading practice and a football game. In walked a young woman who over the summer had grown a foot taller than me. Her long, dark blonde hair was styled. She had on makeup. Best of all, she was smiling as if she was happy to see me. Her father had told us a few weeks earlier he had lost his Tomboy. He was having trouble adjusting to the fact since the change happened suddenly. Now I saw first hand what he meant.

We sat at the dining room table so she could spread out the contents of the folder she carried. First thing she said in a very direct manner, "I can make the interview short and write three pages. That won't get me an A." As she shuffled through her papers to get organized, she continued, "If I talk to you longer and write 5 pages, that would get me an A. I would rather get the A. It's up to you how much you want to tell me. The teacher said not to talk too much if you would rather I didn't stay long."

I told her she could take all the time she needed. Why would I want to rush her when I finally had her talking to me. I wanted to get to know her. I said I would do my best to answer her questions, but I warned her she might have to spice up her story. I was pretty sure I wasn't interesting enough to get her that A. I offered to go over the story so we could do just that, spice it up. I could even proof read it for her while I was at it to make sure she got the A. She said she couldn't let me do that. The teacher told the students to bring the stories to her so she could give them pointers on making the stories better before they turned the final product in.

"So where do we start?" I asked.

"From the moment you were born."

"That is going back a long ways. We may need a lot of time," I warned her.

Reading from a list of questions, birth was the first question the teacher had furnished to help the students with this story telling process. The girl wasn't sure how some of the questions applied to me, but I encouraged her to ask me anyway. Once I elaborated enough that I unwittingly answered the next question.

I fear I was born in a much earlier generation than the teacher. Maybe she thought the students would pick someone more her age to interview instead of someone who could have been the girl's grandmother. I came by that impression when I was asked the question, "How did the arts and craft movement play a part in my life or did it?"

Through my mind scrolled my childhood years in the Missouri Ozarks. Nothing about my early life was an arts and craft experience, but I was determined to give her an answer. Once in awhile we went to a western movie on a Saturday night in a vacant lot next to Schell City's car repair garage. As for crafts, my family was in to crafts, but the main objective for being crafty was to make money. My father built flower baskets, with a log cabin look, from twigs. My mother made crape paper roses she dipped in paraffin. Back in the fifties, we didn't have plastic or silk flowers. My younger brother and my part of this work was after supper. Mom gave us boxes of Kleenex in different colors. We folded a couple Kleenexes in accordion folds and wrapped a wire around the middle. The ends with the fold had to be cut off, then we carefully pulled each fragile layer of tissue paper to the middle. When we were done, we had a carnation. The flowers were arranged in a bouquet in the log cabin baskets and sold to neighbors for Memorial Day decorations to take to the cemeteries. Any basket left we spent the day delivering to cemeteries for our relatives. This story was noted. Maybe she could figure out a way to work it in.

Two hours and several pages of notes later, the girl gave me the last question. The time had passed fast for her and me as well. Since we never had really had a conversation I doubt she was prepared for how much I can elaborate on a subject when given the chance. However, she left happy with her interview and eager to turn it into a story. I asked her to let me know if she got that A.

According to her father, who came over recently to tell me after a talk with his daughter, she had been nervous about talking to me. By the time we finished, she was excited to relate to her parents all the experiences I had shared with her. Her father says she is very impressed with me. That is a two way street. What were the things she found most interesting about my life? It wasn't that I write books and have been a CNA. What impressed her was the fact that I can vegetables we raise. She had me show her my pressure cooker and explain the process. The other thing was that I have for years did my own vet work as much as possible for my flock of sheep and goats. Though she takes care of sheep, she had never thought about giving shots or helping during a difficult birthing and all their food comes from the grocery store. Wow! I could do all that. Not what I would call interesting. These are things I have done for years. Just part of life as a person who lives in the country.

It didn't matter that she wasn't impressed when I said I was an author. I found this bashful Tomboy had turned into a polite, articulate, caring and lovely young woman. I told her to come back and visit any time she wanted, and I hope she does. Maybe I can get her to help me can green beans.

Nov. 15 Book Signing Lemstone Christian Bookstore, Cedar Rapids, Ia.

Book Signing Announcement

On November 15, Keystone author Fay Risner has been invited to a book signing at Lemstone Christian Bookstore located in Collins Plaza Mall across from Linndale Mall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from one to three p.m. Risner will talk about the two books the store sells for her - "Open A Window - Alzheimer's Caregiver Handbook" and "Hello Alzheimer's Good Bye Dad" the story of her father Bill Bullock's struggle with Alzheimer's.


I'm excited to be invited to this book signing at the Lemstone Christian Bookstore. The owners have been planning this event for months. The main hitch was trying to set a date that three authors could commit to.


Other authors at the book signing will be Kent Stock from the movie "The Final Season" the story about Norway, Iowa's baseball team and Karen Ross from Texas with her newly released book about growing up in Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Sorry that I don't have the name of either of their books, but will share those titles next week along with my story about meeting these authors.

I'd been forewarned for months that a book signing was coming soon, but a week's notice has me rushing to plan my portion of the event. First I am very glad to have email. I alerted friends and family.

With such a short notice coming in on Saturday, I don't expect much publicity to be done. I know the local weekly paper has a Monday noon deadline. Monday morning was going to be a busy morning for me between a dental visit and errands. I don't own a cell phone which might surprise most people. That means while I was driving I couldn't call the newspaper. That's why I emailed my book signing article in to the office on Sunday. Also, I emailed a daily newspaper at the county seat.

Next, I made up a flyer to put up on every bulletin board in the area. That will catch people going to the bank, telephone office, post office, library or the local nursing home.

I plan on arriving at the bookstore early Sunday with a copy of each book. The bookstore has a supply, but I want customers to be able to see my books while they are speaking to me. "Hello Alzheimer's Good Bye Dad" has a 1947 picture of my parents on the cover. The customers that will gravitate toward me are ones who are facing Alzheimer's with a family member, or they fear the disease is in their future. What better way to sell a book than to come face to face with someone who was a caregiver (me) and see first hand what a healthy, youthful man (my dad) looked like before he fell victim to the disease. Plus, I share some of my family's experiences that are in the book.

To pick up the book "Open A Window" and hold it long enough to read the reviews on the back doesn't explain stories within that tells of the battles people faced with Alzheimer's. I can convey that verbally in person much better. I just sold both these books to a dental tech. She read a potion of "Open A Window" before my last visit. She told me what she read made her cry because it reminded her of her grandmother's struggle. Holding the book doesn't make a customer feel emotions or empathy. Reading about the people in my book does that. In order to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and understand what happens to people who have it, you have to buy the book and read it.

I'll let you know next week about my book signing.