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Publisher of New Adoption-Themed Easy-Reader Donates to Adoption Charity: Introducing The Forever Friends Club

DRT Press has done it again—-added a great new title to the adoption book genre with the publication of The Forever Friends Club. Follow this link to read my review of the book, but promise to come right back! Purchase your copies (one for your home library, one for the school media center, one for your child’s classroom, one for your public library, a few for gifts…) via this link and the Iowa Chapter of Gift of Adoption Fund will receive a generous percentage of the proceeds!

The same applies to DRT Press’ previous adoption-themed titles, both of which I own and love; When I Met You: A Story of Russian Adoption and Mishka: An Adoption Tale, so if you haven’t gotten around to buying these Russian and Eastern European adoption treasures, why not do it now?

By the way, The Forever Friends Club hints that one character might have ADHD. Read my review (link above) to find out more.

Adrienne Ehlert Bashista is the publisher at DRT Press. Thanks, Adrienne, for your support of Gift of Adoption!

Really? You’re Asking for Funny?

I’m hoping that the personal essays published in Bless Your Heart will cover the range from pee-your-pants funny to river-of-tears touching. But, how does one “do” funny when writing about raising a child with special needs?

First of all, if you haven’t found humor in your situation—please talk to your doctor about antidepressant medication. (Kidding! Sort of….) My serious answer to the question of funny is this: when writing your child funny, make sure love and respect shine through the humor.

While researching the market to find books similar to our vision for Bless Your Heart, I came across this one:

(I didn’t know there was new edition. Cool!)

Read Gina Gallaher’s and Patricia Konjoian’s Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid: A Survival Guide for Ordinary Parents of Special Children for a great example of how a loving brand of funny is done.

Shameless Self-Promotion: Writing Your Bio

The Call for Submissions for Bless Your Heart includes a request for a “brief bio.” A few potential contributors have been less than confident about creating this description of themselves, especially those with limited or no publishing credits.

One of my favorite books about writing covers this very topic—-how and why to get over the idea that humility is a virtue, because, when it comes to promoting your writing, it won’t serve you well. The book I’m refering to is:

How to Become a Famous Writer Before You’re Dead: Your Words in Print and Your Name in Lights, by Ariel Gore. Now, with no offense intended to Ms. Gore (I’m calling the book a favorite, after all), this isn’t the most well written or edited book you’ll ever read—-I’d guess there was a race to a deadline involved. But the book’s message is right on, and its delivery is as irreverant and entertaining as the lesson is important to learn.

Give it a read, then take another stab at that bio. I’m willing to bet it will be easier, and stronger, the second time around.