We are meeting so many fun moms and kids here in Atlanta and on the road (some dads too!) that we want to provide a place to have more of a conversation. I'm also getting lots of questions on writing and the publishing process so we will have future blogs divided into family and parenting stories and stories about creating our books and launching our publishing company. Sometimes they overlap since my business partner is my husband. : )
Occasionally I'll ask YOU for your stories and answers to MY questions. Building a business and raising a family have a lot of similarities. It's all about making good decisions. And sharing learned experiences can help us make informed decisions. So get a cup of coffee or tea, or pour a glass of wine and let's chat!
January 6th, 2010
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! We are just weeks away from the debut of Dear Baby, Let’s Dance! and I can’t wait to share this book with everyone. It is a great read-aloud and kids love to get in on the action showing all their dance moves. For some reason they think the Grandma and Grandpa spread is really funny. Go figure. I read the book to Ms. Mandy Newport’s first grade class at River Eve’s Elementary School in Roswell GA and the kids were so fun. They were up on their feet and dancing. When I finished one little boy asked, “What else you got?!!”
I loved how Ms. Newport disciplined the kids. She took care to find a child who was following directions and would say, “I like how John is sitting quietly with his back pack ready to go.” “I see Julie is sitting in her seat and raising her hand to ask a question.”
It was such a smart tactic and effective. It had the kids vying for her attention with positive behavior. I am currently scheduling author visits in Atlanta, Birmingham AL, Chattanooga, TN and Chicago so if you are interested in booking a visit, email me at carolcasey@dearbabybooks.com. I don’t want to be immodest but my author visits now come with a magic wand that makes that tinkly happy sound. : ) I got it for Christmas from my daughter.
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December 18th, 2009
I’ve had a couple moments in the last few weeks that let me know we are on the right path. We were put on a recommended books list on buybooksfortheholidays.com. Books a million ordered a couple hundred copies of our first book Dear Baby, What I love about you! and our 2nd book Dear Baby, Let’s Dance! that is being released February 1st. Thank you to the BAM folks and to National Book Network ace rep Janet Fairchild. We’ve also been getting some wonderful mail and mommy blogger reviews. Updates on all of this can be found on the home page. And for my big news….. Dear Baby, What I love about you! has been quoted in an important letter to Santa.
Our daughter-in-law Leah called to let me know that she and Ava were “writing” a letter to Santa. Ava would tell her what to put in the letter and on her wish list and as they were finishing up, Ava had one last thing to add. “Tell Santa he’s my one of a kind wonderful adorable YOU!” I can’t imagine having one of my books quoted will ever make me feel quite this good again.
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December 9th, 2009
I’m in Chicago and it’s snowing. Big fluffy snowflakes just raining down from the sky. I was supposed to go back to Atlanta yesterday or today latest but I’m stuck here waiting out the storm. I must say I’m not altogether unhappy about it. I’m all cozy in my parents’ condo that sits next to a train station in the western suburb of Downers Grove. The condo is on the top floor of a 4-story building and has a large circle of windows overlooking the town. Huge Christmas trees are lit up with lights and decorations. Steam pours out from the trains as they pull in and out of town dropping off groups of bundled up commuters headed for their cars and homes. I feel like I’m trapped in the most picturesque Christmas postcard imaginable.
Inside, the condo is decorated with all the familiar ornaments and holiday pieces from my childhood. And then there is Mom and Dad. They are 81 and 86, respectively, and as full of fun and life and romance as a pair of teenagers. This trip started off as kind of a favor. Mom and Dad came to Atlanta with my sister and brother-in-law to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. They were going to fly home but I could tell Dad wasn’t feeling good about flying after a recent medical procedure. So even though it’s not the best time to leave work, I said I’d drive them back to Chicago. It allowed me to help them get their tree up and get all their Christmas shopping bought and wrapped. We did all that but in the end I think I was the one who received the better favor. I love our Atlanta home and life but I do miss snowy Christmases with my parents and siblings. This stolen time with them has been a holiday blessing.
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November 10th, 2009
Quick picks of favorite Ava moments the last few weeks. Hats off to Mommy Bloggers. I don’t know how you do it every day!
The last day of Ava’s week long visit with us I was working at home in 5 and ten minute spurts, I managed to get some of my business list checked off. But the funny thing is Miss Ava definitely knows when she is being given the brief toddler brush-off. I finished my work and said brightly “LET”S COLOR SOME PUMPKINS NOW!” Ava’s response: “Not now, Grandma. I’m WORKING!” She climbed on my office chair and busily clicked away at the keys. I’ve got to respect a girl who knows how to maker her point. A few minutes later we colored together and signed the pages with a flourish. Did you know you can dowload free coloring pages from the Internet? It’s great! Is it bad to admit I still like to color?
Taking Time to See the Rain
The best thing about hanging out with a young child is they make you stop and see things you might pass by. We were on the way downstairs to start our day after a leisurely read and snuggle when Ava pulled me to a stop midway down. “Look Grandma. Let’s stop and look at the rain.” “Okay, I said pulling her further down but first let’s go get some breakfast.” No, NOW. Let’s watch NOW!”
So we did. We sat on the stairs and looked through the windows at the rain coming down. She shook her head sadly. “Rain is nasty.” She was no doubt thinking about how our trip to the pumpkin patch would be cancelled. This led to a discussion about what was good about rain. How all the flowers are SO thirsty and look forward to a good long drink. How you can wash your hair in it and kick water up from puddles. Eventually she got up and looked at me with those big brown eyes and said “Rain is good….AND NASTY.”
Ava has been back home with her mom and dad for a few weeks now and we’ve seen her several times since but we do treasure these occasional overnights and long visits, however disruptive they are to our schedule. She sure knows how to light up a room. Plus, it’s always good for a writer to spend time with her muse. : )
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October 26th, 2009
It’s 8:37 and John is attempting to put Ava to bed. I am looking at our office and lower level TV room and it looks like we’ve been robbed. There are toys, books and papers EVERYWHERE. I may have to wait until tomorrow to bring order. Note to self: GET A BASKET. This was a suggestion from our son Mike instead of having a couple bookshelves for Ava’s stuff. I kind of pictured myself telling Ava one toy at a time and cleaning up together but it hasn’t worked out that way. No wonder Leah needs a vacation. And no wonder why she’ll hurry back when it’s over. It’s just pure fun most of the time to live in this little child’s world. At dinner today, she told me to tell Grandpa NO TICKLING. So I told Grandpa, Please don’t tickle Ava. He said okay and she looked at me in wonder and said “He listens!”
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October 26th, 2009
It is 12:29 and I am sneaking in a little more work. Ava is playing quietly in the next room. She has in her hand a weapon guaranteed to strike terror in the hearts of parents and grandparents everywhere — a crayon. Now I hear the phone being dialed. Please God, don’t let me go out there to see “faux” painting all over our walls and furniture. She’s probably dialing China. I know I should go check but I’ve been trying to finish some letters. Wait a minute. She just poked her head in and checked ME. That can’t be good.
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October 26th, 2009
Oh dear. I’ve been demoted. After spending Saturday night with Aunt Erin and Uncle Nathan. Nathan is now Ava’s new best friend. Also, Mama’s friend Dawn is her best friend. I must have looked at her like, “WHAT???!!” because she looked at me kindly and said, “No. GRANDMA is Ava’s best friend.” Oh the fickle hearts of two year-olds.
We’ve had our first fight. It involved not shoving open and closed the drawer on Grandma’s end table. She used her best fake cry and ran into Grandpa’s arms.
Speaking of Grandpa. God bless him. I was up at 6:30 Saturday morning with Ava and at 8:30 he took her for a long walk and I got to get a few more hours of sleep.
Does anyone have any good suggestions for brushing or combing snarled hair? Just the mention of a brush sends Ava into hysterics. It’s traumatizing for both of us.
Well, my pink dressed partner in crime and I are off for a walk to Starbucks. Oh!! I buried the lead. The first box of advance copies of Dear Baby, Let’s Dance! arrived about an hour ago. How great that Ava was here for the arrival. We read it together. She already has most of the book memorized from looking at the early versions. THIS IS AVA’s FAVORITE BOOK, she says. For now….. : )
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