Mom's Choice Matters

Mom's Choice Matters!

As many of you are aware, I have been guest posting about Autism Spectrum Disorder on the Mom's Choice Matters Blog for a few months now.

It has been a privilege and honour to work with Terry Doherty the Director of Social Media for the Mom's Choice Awards. She is a true professional and a strong supporter of children facing all sorts of challenges. In addition to her work with Mom's Choice, she is also the Executive Director of The Reading Tub, an online book review site that is a must view for parents looking for great books for their children.

Terry Doherty

Sadly, I have now written my last guest post for Terry as my work with Rebelight Publishing and my upcoming book release of Forever Julia has erased all free time. However, great plans are in the works to continue the "All About Aspergers Syndrome Series" with a new contributor who will make you laugh, cry, and grab a pen and paper to take notes.

Once the official announcement has been made, I will write a quick post to introduce this most marvellous writer.
I know you will enjoy her writing as much as I do!

You can check out Mom's Choice Matters here!

And The Reading Tub here!

These are the links to my "All About Aspergers Syndrome Series":

Aspergers Syndrome and ADHD - Understanding the Difference

Helping Kids with Aspergers Syndrome in the Classroom

Making Friends 101 - Everyone Needs a Friend

Autism and Play Dates - Visiting a Friend's House 

Quote to remember:

"Autism is not a disease. I think of Autism as a different kind of operating system."

– Audrey Lintner, Special Projects Coordinator, Little Pickle Press

Shout out to Chapters St. Vital!

Another successful book signing at Chapters St. Vital, done and complete!

I met all sorts of folks. Avid readers, burgeoning writers from ages 9 to 29, parents looking for books for reluctant readers, and of course grandparents. Again, I was astounded by the numbers of grandparents buying books for their grandchildren.

Most awesome.

Pat, me (chinless), & Christina - "An Anitas Writing Group Selfie"

Throughout the afternoon I was joined by my writing friends, my
parents, and my daughters who came and went, keeping me company and enticing shoppers to buy Spaghetti! My dad in particular had a delightful time speaking to customers and to Joseph, who looked after us throughout the book signing, making us feel like part of the Chapters team.

They say employees are a reflection of the general health and attitude of a business, and if that is so, Chapters must be doing everything right. Every staff member I've dealt with has been enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and a joy to work with.

Three Cheers for Chapters!

Spotlight on Autism Spectrum Disorder

Chapters St. Vital, Winnipeg

This Saturday, April 5^th, Chapters St. Vital is hosting a book signing of Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food and Other Life Lessons to help shine a light on Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Come join me from 12:30 – 4:30 as I sign books, chat about ASD, and the need for acceptance for all, regardless of our differences.

I''ll look a lot like this! 

I’ll be set up at the entrance to the mall. 

You won’t be able to miss me. 

(Just look for the blue & green helium balloons.)

First Chapters' Book Signing a Success!

All set up and ready to sign!

My first Chapters' book signing went off without a hitch!

A huge thank you to Trevor Rushak and Camilla Mozdzen of the St. Vital Centre Chapters store for inviting me and making me feel so very welcome.




I met some incredible people; some who knew all about Aspergers, some with brand new diagnoses in their families, but mostly children or their parents who were chiefly looking for a good book.

My two most favourite moments:

Early in the afternoon a young girl named Riley bought Spaghetti and returned a half hour later to thank me again and give me a hug.

Later parents of a newly diagnosed 19 year old came to my table with a stack of books asking, "Where to begin? How do we help ourselves understand our son and give him the support he needs?"

I directed them to Asperger Manitoba and wrote down the names of my favourite Autism Spectrum Disorder authors: Dr. Tony Attwood, Temple Grandin and Michael John Carley. If you're looking for information, just click on their names and visit their website or Amazon page.

Oh! And I also met some incredible classroom and resource teachers. And so very many stellar grandparents involved in their grandkids' lives. And...the list goes on.

Winnipeg is full of readers, and it was a huge pleasure meeting so many of them last weekend.

The best news of the day though, was being asked to return for Autism Awareness Month!

Looking to purchase a copy of Spaghetti?

Click here:

Chapters'/Indigo/Coles

Fabulousness Welcomes Spaghetti - BBT Stop # 6

The Fabulous, Leslea Tash

Leslea Tash, is the host of my next blog stop. She's a writer, newlywed, mother, and dog-sitter. And according to her blog site, she's even a human being.

She's got a wicked sense of humor, so I expect we'll have a lovely time hanging out on her site.

You may also be wondering,  "Where do I know this woman from?”

Leslea has a long history in blogging and goes way, way back. (In addition to being a well known and highly regarded freelance reporter.) Here's the blogs she's been active in:

• Guerilla Mothering
• Allergy News, and
• Allergy Go-to Mom on CafeMom, with Meredith Viera

Come join us over at The Fabulousness site of Leslea Tash. 

It promises to be a hilariously fun time!

Here are the other blog stops on the Spaghetti tour:

January 7   - The Connor Chronicles
January 8   - Magic Dog Press
January 8   -  Maryann Miller's - It's Not all Gravy
January 9   - mom-ology
January 10 - Confessions of An Aspergers Mom
January 11 - Blood Red Pencil
January 12 - Leslea Tash
January 13 - Inneraspie

I know everything about Dogs, Dinosaurs,
and Math!

Spaghetti BBT Stop #4 - Confessions of an Asperger's Mom

Not the expert mom with all the answers
- the mom who can't stop looking for them.

I had the distinct pleasure of "meeting" Karen Wesley Weaver, the host of today's blog stop, on Friday December 7, 2012.

The date is firmly etched in my brain as that was the date Little Pickle Press posted Karen's book review of Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food on their website.

I was especially nervous as Karen and her family are exactly who Spaghetti was written for - families with kids on the spectrum.

Would she like it? Would she think I had done her boys justice? Would she see the merit in Connor's story?

Thankfully she said "yes" to all the above and posted a glowing review.

I'm ecstatic that she is hosting me today on her blog, Confessions of an Asperger's Mom. Karen is an Autism Advocate, Writer and full-time Mother to two boys on the autism spectrum, who are now in middle and high school. She blogs about her journey and also administrates an online support community for Autism and Asperger's Parents on Facebook. 

Karen is an outspoken and passionate advocate and I encourage you to seek her out on her blog, Facebook and Twitter. You'll be inspired, encouraged, and most of all welcomed.

Here are the other blog stops on the Spaghetti tour:

January 7   - The Connor Chronicles
January 8   - Magic Dog Press
January 8   -  Maryann Miller's - It's Not all Gravy
January 9   - mom-ology
January 10 - Confessions of An Aspergers Mom
January 11 - Blood Red Pencil
January 12 - Leslea Tash
January 13 - Inneraspie

Connor just wants to be as cool as everyone else...

Spaghetti BBT #3 - Mom-Ology - 'Cause Momma Knows Best

Advocate of Autism Spectrum Disorder

The third stop on my virtual tour (doesn't that sound like I'm part of  the Matrix?) is at the awesome blog site; Mom-Ology, where advocacy and action meet.

Jen is the mastermind behind Mom-Ology and is a stay-at-home Mom of an 8 year old boy on the Autism spectrum (a.k.a. Bean).  She started blogging in November 2011, shortly after she started homeschooling her son.  She's married, and has been for 11 years.  Her hubby (a.k.a. Hubby) is an avid martial artist and together they run a specialized program for kids on the Autism spectrum.

Jen also has 2 golden retrievers; Ollie and Jorga (pronounced Georgia).  Ollie is Bean’s autism service dog and Jorga… well, she’s known as ‘The Spazmanian Devil’.  They add just a little more craziness to their lives, which they thoroughly enjoy!

One of Jen's big passions is raising autism awareness. she is an active advocate in the community for both autism and autism service dogs.  She's also a supporter of the I CARE Foundation and the work that they are doing to help end International Parental Child Abduction (IPCA).  Not only will you see a number of things on her blog in reference to autism, but also related to IPCA.

She's a proud Canadian blogger and loves to share Canadian content. Jen's my first stop with a fellow Canadian and it is a true honor to be hosted on her site. Plus, she and her post absolutely rock and we are going to have oodles of fun today! 

So click over to Mom-Ology; you'll find support, community, and great resources.

Here are the other blog stops on the Spaghetti tour:

January 7   - The Connor Chronicles
January 8   - Magic Dog Press
January 8   -  Maryann Miller's - It's Not all Gravy
January 9   - mom-ology
January 10 - Confessions of An Aspergers Mom
January 11 - Blood Red Pencil
January 12 - Leslea Tash
January 13 - Inneraspie

Connor's Story - Quirky, laugh-out-loud fun!

Spaghetti Blog Book Tour - Magic Dog Press - Stop 2A!

They're a Heinz 57 Publisher
(& they're house broken. Almost.)

I am thrilled to be hosted at Magic Dog Press for my second (part A) blog tour stop.

They are a "growth stage" publisher, supportive of other innovative presses such as Little Pickle Press.

Here's a wee bit about Magic Dog, in their own words:

"It's a mongrel, that's what it is. There's nothing purebred about anything we do.

Our books don't fit neatly into genres. Our picture books spill into our biographies which spill into our novels which spill into our children's books which spill into our posters. And everything's just a hair off-beam. We espouse vulgarity. We cultivate irreverence. We hold barbecues with sacred cows. We're not biters, but we might very well have an accident on your rug.

Your favourite rug.

But we'll wag our tails and lick your hand afterwards. We're storytellers. We might tell the story in words, in pictures, or on a t-shirt, but always, always, it's there-- even if it can't be told in mixed company.

We're new in town; check back with us for things new, strange, and possibly wiggly and damp."

Magic Dog Press isn't afraid of trying something new and step outside the box of traditional publishing - just like my rockin' publisher, Little Pickle Press.

So come on over to Magic Dog; you'll like what you find.

Here are the other blog stops on the Spaghetti tour:

January 7   - The Connor Chronicles
January 8   - Magic Dog Press
January 8   -  Maryann Miller's - It's Not all Gravy
January 9   - mom-ology
January 10 - Confessions of An Aspergers Mom
January 11 - Blood Red Pencil
January 12 - Leslea Tash
January 13 - Inneraspie

Humorous, quirky, and down-right lovable, 8 year-old Connor!

All Aboard the Spaghetti Blog Tour! Stop #1!

http://amzn.com/B00ADVR54U

Hey Friends!

Today's the first day of my Spaghetti Blog Book Tour! 

First stop - Flannery Sullivan's: Living on the Spectrum: The Connor Chronicles.

Connor, Flannery's seven-year-old son, has severe ADHD and mild Asperger’s.  He is their pride and joy, as well as their biggest challenge.

Her blog discusses her every day struggles and accomplishments and is a wonderful resource for other parents with children on the spectrum.

As an advocate for ASD, Flannery is a strong supporter of the Facebook site;  Austism Shines. The website is quickly growing in popularity and is a place to say, “this is my amazing, beautiful child,” as well as a place for adult autistics to say, “look at me, I’m just like YOU!”

I hope you'll join me along the way as I scoot around the Internet sharing my Connor's story with the world.

Here are the stops I'll be making. Just click on the blog site names and...presto you'll be there! 

January 7   - The Connor Chronicles
January 8 -  Maryann Miller's - It's Not all Gravy
January 8   - Magic Dog Press
January 9   - mom-ology
January 10 - Confessions of An Aspergers Mom
January 11 - Blood Red Pencil
January 12 - Leslea Tash
January 13 - Inneraspie

Here's a quick summary of my book:

Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food and Other Life Lessons, is a humorous chapter book about an eight-year-old boy with Asperger's Syndrome. Connor struggles to make his way through a typical school day and in his attempt to be as cool as everyone else, he leaves a hilarious trail of destruction. But, by the end of the day, and despite many miscommunications and misunderstandings, Connor realizes that he is exactly as cool as he is supposed to be.

Now available on Amazon! Click here to easily purchase your eBook.

Blog Book Tour - FAQ

Come January 7th, I will officially begin the 

Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food and Other Life Lessons Blog Book Tour.

When I told my family and friends about this exciting week long event, I received countless blank stares. So, I thought I'd better get a' bloggin' about...bloggin'!

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions, which should provide a good review of how a BBT works.

Q. What exactly is a blog book tour?

A. It's an online book tour that stops at various blog sites, where the book in question is discussed. In this case, Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food.

This can be done, by posting a book review or by conducting an interview with the writer - aka Yours Truly. Once the host blogger posts their review or Q & A, a lively discussion follows.

Q. Who can post comments or ask questions?

A. Well, anyone - which includes you! Maybe you are wondering how writers come up with ideas. Perhaps you relate to one of the characters and you want to share your experiences with others. Or you may possibly want to know what Connor's favourite color is - who knows? But if you ask it, I'll try to answer it.

Q. Am I obligated to buy the book if I follow the blog tour?

A. Absolutely not! But, of course we hope you fall in love with Connor and want to read Spaghetti from cover to cover. Or give it as a gift. Or share it with your students. Really the possibilities are nearly endless!

Q. Why isn't there a "traditional" book tour?

A. Although jetting from city to city is a writer's dream, the world of publishing has changed immensely over the past 5 to 10 years. Extravagant book launch tours are a thing of the past and are now reserved for the biggest names in literature.

Q. Who hosts the blog stops?

A. Extremely awesome bloggers, with large followings have graciously agreed to host our tour.

Q. Are there any other benefits to taking a virtual tour?

A. Most definitely. Blog tours create permanent posts discussing Spaghetti. They'll be there...FOREVER. If you're 21 and posted pictures of your Spring Break trip to Daytona Beach, this may be a problem, but for authors this is MARVELLOUS! When readers are searching for information about a book, author, or topic, up will pop these blog posts.

Q. How do I know where the Spaghetti Tour will be stopping?

A. Here are the dates and blogs that I'll be visiting. (Click on the Blog Sites and you will be magically taken to their outstanding blogs.)


January 7   - The Connor Chronicles
January 8   - Magic Dog Press
January 8 -  Maryann Miller's - It's Not all Gravy
January 9   - mom-ology
January 10 - Confessions of An Aspergers Mom
January 11 - Blood Red Pencil
January 12 - Leslea Tash
January 13 - Inneraspie

Hope to "see" you there!