Moving the nest...

Lots going on these days.  I feel like a crazy mother bird.  My nest has been uprooted and I'm busy building our new nest (a long work in progress).  I'm also editing Story Pie Press' second book, and am in the middle of reading through focus group comments for our third book (TBD), all while dreaming of a day when I can start writing again.  It feels like it's been much too long.  It's an interesting balance...being an editor of a small publishing press and a writer.

My goal, before 2010 is over, is to finish one of these novels I've been building for years.  Finally.  All I'm asking for is one draft.  I can do it.  I can do it.  I CAN DO IT!  Isn't that what the fledgling says before it jumps out of the nest to fly?  Then it lands on a deck to sing a sweet song of success.

~Mary

Successful Food Allergy Awareness Fundraiser for Dr. Robert Wood

May 16th was a beautiful day for fundraising. The music was cool and electric, the treats deeeeeelicious and allergy-friendly, and the breeze perfect. We had a nice turnout and raised over $1,200 for Dr. Robert Wood of Johns Hopkins in his efforts to find a cure for food allergies. Kids with food-allergies ROCK! You know why? Because they are brave! Brave and aware.  There was even a high school kid who purchased a copy of my picture book to show her teachers...teachers who should be supportive of food-allergy students, but are not yet.  See why kids of all ages with this disease need to be brave...brave, courageous, self-advocates?!  They are not alone, however.  Support is growing every day.

So thank you to all those who came out to celebrate awareness this May, and thank you to Loudoun Allergy Network for hosting the event.  We are all praying for a cure.

Blessings to all,
Mary

FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS EVENT

This week is Food Allergy Awareness Week. I have been busy popping in for author's visits and getting ready for Loudoun Allergy Network's Food Allergy Awareness Event. Mark your calendar for this Sunday, May 16 from 12pm to 4pm at Lansdowne Town Center, outside of Go Bananas toy store. It's going to be worth your while, I promise!!!! And we are raising money for a most important cause, Dr. Robert Wood's research to find a cure for food allergies. He's busy, folks. Busy every day getting closer and closer to a cure. Help us by showing your support.

Hope to see you there!

Click on the title of this post to find out more about this event!

Love,

Mary

Book Review of The Day I Met The Nuts (Click here to read the review)

Check out this great review The Day I Met The Nuts by Rhonda (a.k.a AllergyMom), founder of Allergy Sense . AllergyMom contacted me after reading my article, One Mother's Tale of Food Allergies, and then requested a copy of The Nuts to review. She is a mother of a food allergy child as well, and, as I mentionioned, the founder of Allergy Sense...a wonderful resource for people of all ages with food allergies.

Thank you, AllergyMom, for your thorough review, and for providing a great resource for us all!


Happy reading,
Mary

The Day I Met The Nuts gives back

Hi, Folks!

This is to let you know the story on The Day I Met The Nuts has been written up on the John's Hopkins website. Story Pie Press gives 45% of the proceeds from every book sold to Dr. Robert Wood and his research to find a cure.

Go here to read all about it... http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/investing-in-food-allergy-research.aspx
~Mary

One Mother's Tale of Food Allergies

I'm happy to announce, my article One Mother's Tale of Food Allergies has been published in I AM MODERN Magazine. Click on the link to read about my journey with food allergies.

http://www.iammodern.com/kids-blog/one-mothers-tale-of-food-allergies.html

For those with food allergies...eat safely,
~M

Pictures of the book launch for THE DAY I MET THE NUTS at ArtInsights Gallery

And so it began...

You walked into a scavenger hunt at the amazing ArtInsights Gallery, which led to me. (Wait. Who's that handsome kid in the blue vest or that charming man sitting down in the background with that cheeky grin? Oh that's right, they both belong to me.)

There's my other handsome, slightly mischievous, little man in the gray sweatshirt, helping friends with the scavenger hunt.

Getting my signing down at the book launch took full concentration ;).

Again, it required full concentration...and a most serious look.

Look at these two sweetie pies patiently waiting! Thankfully, the boys in the background were not starting a wrestling match, or were they?

I met new friends...

...and old friends (okay, Amy...you know I don't mean "old" but dear. If the camera had been facing her way, you would see how very young and beautiful she really is to all!). By the way, what were we talking about?



And I couldn't have done it without my husband or my beautiful mother. Since I'm not rich and famous, they get to be my handlers. And a BIG thank you to my Dad who kept a good eye on my boys (they were constantly on the move. So pictures of them here are few and rare.)

But the biggest thanks goes to my family, friends, and book lovers who came out in support. Thank you for your patience when the line got long...

...or when the author took a break.

Love to all,

~Mary