Smile, Darn Ya, Smile

In the 1940’s, a popular song was recorded by Sammy Davis, Jr. The song was titled “Smile, Darn Ya, Smile.” Here goes – I’m admitting my age – I remember my mother singing this song to me whenever I was a grumpy kid. The song must have lodged somewhere deep in the recesses of my gray matter, because I haven’t heard it for many, many years, yet suddenly it came wafting through my brain just yesterday.

I stopped by a bookstore in my city, looking forward to a cup of coffee and a romp through the newest children’s books, when I encountered an author. Actually, I almost missed her. Yes, she was sitting quietly behind her table, arms crossed, cell phone in view, and a magazine within reach. She seemed to have everything that she needed, except for one thing – a smile!

C’mon now, who wants to approach a curmudgeon?

Authors are supposed to do signings to present themselves and their books. So, smile! Be inviting! Remember that body language speaks louder than words. Sitting with your arms crossed tells people that you are unapproachable. Working crossword puzzles or talking on a cell phone tells people that you are not interested in them. It’s absolutely essential to talk to people, all the while keeping that smile on your face.

If you believe in your books and believe in yourself, you will realize that you have accomplished something that many people only dream about. Be proud. And don't forget to smile!

To quote the last lines of the song: “So make life worthwhile…Come on and smile, darn ya, smile”

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Don't Let Anyone Steal Your Dreams-Lessons From an 8-Year Old

Are you an aspiring writer? Someone who loves children? A teacher looking for ways to inspire the students to write? Parents looking for ways to spark their kids’ creativity? Someone who has an idea, but is lacking the conviction to proceed? Read on…

Recently, I had the good fortune to meet a very talented 8-year old author. Yes, that’s right. I said 8-year old. This amazing little guy learned a little known fact about butterflies in science class and turned it into a book! Titled Butterflies Shouldn’t Wear Shoes, this beautifully illustrated (by the author, of course) book tells us that butterflies can wear whatever they like, however they should never wear shoes. Why? Here’s a hint – butterflies taste with their feet. (Who knew?)

The real point here is that young Eric seized the moment, took the bull by the horns, had an idea and ran with it. However you choose to say it, he didn’t let anyone steal his dreams. Proud of the fact that he is donating all of the proceeds from the book to the World Wildlife Fund, Eric has even been interviewed by Fox News and has been featured in the World Wildlife Newsletter. He has already raised over $2000.

What an inspiration to us all. And you can’t do it – why??

A Fairy Tale is Born

My first cookbook was published in 1980, launching an exciting career in the world of food. I taught cooking classes and traveled all over as a featured speaker and guest on radio and TV shows. I even appeared on the Regis Philbin show. (That’s really my biggest claim to fame.) The result was a total of seven successful cookbooks and a totally burned-out author. So, I decided it was time to slow down and enjoy the wonderful time of life I fondly refer to as “grandmotherhood”.

All was peaceful, until three years ago…

My new career started on an ordinary day, in an ordinary way. I was simply brushing my twin granddaughters’ hair. One of the girls was distressed about the mass of knots and tangles in her beautiful, but very curly tresses. I found myself doing something that having ten grandchildren has taught me to do well - making up stories to divert the girls’ attention. I told the twins about a tiny fairy who flies into children’s rooms at night and delights in tangling their hair. It worked! No more tears and no more tangles. Later that day the girls and I sat down together, wrote the entire story and decided to call it The Knot Fairy. I never imagined that this was the beginning of a new and very exciting adventure. The adventure actually catapulted into a career a few days later when I innocently said to the girls, “Why don’t we turn this story into a book?” Oops, that just slipped out. I didn’t mean to say it. Now what? I couldn’t back out. I could never disappoint my grandkids. And so, a fairy tale was born.

Anyway, this seemed like the perfect time to re-invent my career. My bachelor’s degree in education and my minor in children’s literature were calling to me to re-enter the book world. As I fast-forward to today, three years later, and only one year after the release of The Knot Fairy, I am happy to report that the book has been the recipient of two children’s book awards and a selection on the esteemed BookSense Childrens’ Pick List. In addition, the book is now a finalist in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards. It seems that the mystery of tangled hair is a popular dilemma that crosses all ages and ethnic boundaries.

Now, in keeping with my theme of explaining some of the deeper mysteries of life, I am pleased to announce that my second book., The Sock Fairy will be arriving this Spring. Yes, everyone has been visited by this mischievous little sprite. He’s the one (yes, a little boy fairy) who is responsible for missing socks, mismatched socks, and the occasional hole in the toe.

So, just remember - when life’s little mysteries have you baffled – who better to blame it on than a fairy?