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!

Happy New Year - Blogging Style!

www.hellolidy.com

Happy New Year!

2012 was one fine year.

So many great things happened over those 12 months, that I was sad to bid it adieu, farewell, au videsen, good-night.

Yes, I watched The Sound of Music over the Christmas holiday. Twice. And replayed my favourite songs, singling loudly, proudly and completely tonelessly.

Nothing says Merry Christmas better than the sound of a yodelling, possibly dying, moose. 

You'd think my children would've been horrified. Nuh-uh. They were only mildly annoyed. They rolled their unamused eyes, with perfection, and popped in their ear buds, tuning out my loud braying. Kids. No accounting for taste.

But, 2013 has been rung-in with excitement and huge plans for the future of Connor and his adventures in Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food and Other Life Lessons. 

www.themovieblog.com

Firmly at the helm and driving Spaghetti upward and onward is my fearless, tireless, and possibly genius publisher, Rana DiOrio. Every few weeks, she whispers to me another few words of her Master Plan, and my heart leaps, my mind whirls with the possibilities. Oh, and she has plans. Big, audacious plans.

Top Secret, "Jodi, you must keep this to yourself until the time is right," plans.

Argh. Being quiet is extremely difficult for someone whose dreams are soaring to heights only dreamt in private. Plus, I'm a might bit excitable. It's part of my very nature. It sits right next to my hyper rabbit-talk, and fidgety feet. It occupies the space where patience lives, in people other than moi.

And I've tried to keep pace with Rana. I've even tried to "out-think" her plan. To "expect" her next whisper, but every time she astounds me. Trying to keep up with her, is like chasing the wind - and she's a mighty Nor-Easter that is hell heck bent on success. (Keeping it family friendly, peeps.)

What I can share is the news of my upcoming 

Blog Book Tour, running January 7 - 13th. 

Come join us for some laughs and find out more about Connor and how he came to be.

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

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ADVR54U/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

Spaghetti - Now Available on Amazon!

WOOHOO! It's here!

Launch day, at last.

So thrilled to finally have my first chapter book ready for young readers.

It is now available on Amazon for your Kindle.

 

Please click here to puchase your copy: http://amzn.to/VmKP08

Don't have a Kindle?

For your convenience I have listed various links for you to download a Kindle app, allowing you to read Spaghetti on your PC, Mac, Android or iPad. Once your app is installed follow the same link to Amazon and you're good to go.

App Links:

 

Click here for PC

Click here for Mac

Click here for Android

Click here for iPad

In 91 days, Spaghetti will become available on iOS, NOOK, KOBO and Sony eReaders. We're pushing for a print copy, and once we get a large enough order we'll be full steam ahead for a paperback, too!

Spaghetti, in summary:

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.