The wonderful Blue Willow Gift Shop and Antiques in Ogunquit, Maine is now selling my book, One Brave Thing! Next time you are in Perkins Cove, stop in and pick up my book! Tell two friends!
Author: Karen
I am an RN, Author, Coach, and Speaker. I write novels about relationships to help people find insight into their own. I guide people to create comfort, clarity, and connection in their lives. By combining metaphysical tools with over twenty-five years of nursing experience, I infuse the 'art of nursing' into my practice by providing partnership and resources help people compassionately honor their health.
Bebe, the Movie
I am working on the idea of making my book One Brave Thing into a movie! Its (probably) only a matter of time before the producers come a-knockin’. After all, other Maine authors have had their books made into movies.
😀
Here’s a little bit of what I’m anticipating:
Warner Brothers and actor/director Nick Cassavetes (my first choice, since he is the son of John Cassavetes who was in one of my favorite Columbo episodes ever, Etude in Black) are auditioning for the role of Bebe of One Brave Thing fame.
As the author, I get limited input with casting but have given them a short list of actresses that I would like them to consider to play Bebe:
Eden Sher, Mae Whitman, Anna Kendrick, Kristen Stewart, and Miranda Cosgrove.
Participate! Vote for the ‘reader’s choice’ actress to play Bebe in One Brave Thing, the movie.
I’ll tell you my FIRST choice after all the votes are in. As if you can’t guess.
For your viewing pleasure, here is Mae Whitman (she’s the brunette) in the movie: The Duff:
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Book Review: Shadows on the Coast of Maine
I recently read this book, Shadows on the Coast of Maine by Lea Wait. This is another book that came to me by way of my husband, Bill, who knows what I like.
🙂
Shadows is immediately interesting and absorbing. I got it on audiobook because I was planning to do some driving and like to read while I do. 🙂
I was also attracted to this book because Lea Waite is a Maine author and the story is set in Maine, the state I love…so how could I go wrong? It’s about a couple who make the transition to move to Maine, and then try to get their lives on track, but bad things happen to them, so a friend comes to stay to try to help. After that, everything gets worse. That’s all I’m saying (hey, it’s a mystery, people).
Here’s the thing: I used up a lot of miles and gas listening to this book, because I was enjoying it so much that I just kept going and going and going.
Reading Shadows gave me the same feeling that I had as a young girl when I read the Nancy Drew mysteries by Carolyn Keene. What is especially wonderful is that this book is part of a series! Don’t you just want to celebrate when you finish a book you love and discover that there are more like it? This is one of those.
Yay! Read this book!
After you finish it, maybe read my book too! One Brave Thing
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Book Review: Not Even Dark Chocolate Can Fix This Mess
Not even dark chocolate can fix this mess by Kathy Eliscu is so much fun to read! I started reading this book weeks ago, when it first came out, and then I 
sadly had to put it aside so that I could finish a project (okay, publishing my own book!). But ‘Not Even…’ called to me the whole time, patiently awaiting my return (okay, fine! I lost it! I had to invoke St Anthony to help me find it and now that I’ve finished reading the book, I can see that he had a vested interest in the recovery effort). All I can say is that it was SO worth the wait.
This book is like a page (okay 309 pages-I checked) from my own life. Maybe from your own, too. From the GYN table to the toilet stall (really? Still wrestling with wings or no wings? I win-I quit that s*** years ago! Sorry, TMI? My bad), Tink had me at “hormones”. Once I picked the book up, I couldn’t put it down again. I read it all at once.
Not Even chronicles the daily life of Tink, which is a cacophony of ringing phones, buzzing beepers, and pinging answering machines, underpinned by the love of her friends, family, and fiance.
A good life.
A few notes to author:
Kathy, my nursing cap was white with 1 blue stripe! Or was it 2? Dammit, now I have to get up off the couch and go look…
Oh, and that gray hair trauma thing in Chapter 15 (insert zipped-lip smiley emoticon here)? Total empathy for Tink (again, sorry, TMI? My bad).
Also, I have one word (okay, 2 words) to add to the ‘SHUT. UP.’ list for nurses: ‘Best Practice’.
SHUT. UP.
There are illustrations in the book. A bonus, like free gift with (book) purchase (thank you, Kathy Eliscu! And William D. Eldridge!). My favorite one is on page 133. Don’t ask me why. Art is personal, remember?!
Now I have to go. That “little portable whirlpool tub” for tired feet? Gotta get me one of those…
This book? READ IT.
(This is my review adapted from the one I wrote for amazon.com).
After you finish this book, read my book! One Brave Thing
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How to do a book reading and signing
I’m planning to do my first reading from my book One Brave Thing next month, so I thought I’d visit another author’s event to show my support (oh, and to learn a thing or two, maybe) about how to set myself up for success. Kathy Eliscu was at the Falmouth Memorial Library last week reading from her book, Not Even Dark Chocolate Can Fix This Mess. I loved her book (I will be posting a review here soon) and knew I would love her reading, so off we (my husband and I) went.
Right off the bat, I noticed (as I ran into the room at 6:33pm for a 6:30pm start time–I was running late from my daughter’s track meet, my bad) that the little room was filled to capacity. Yep; standing room only. Now this wasn’t my first author reading. I have been to plenty of them and many are not as well attended as this one was. This was a great turnout. Note to self: call the fam and impress upon them the importance of showing up, and bringing several friends apiece to my reading next month.
The next thing I noticed: the requisite flowers (check) and chocolate (check) were in attendance. I learned these are non-negotiable components of a successful book reading. Don’t ask me how I know this. I am not at liberty to discuss it, but I’m pretty sure it’s the law. I was already planning to have these at my reading, so I was starting to feel pretty good about my debut. Plus, Kathy’s talk was about her book and her mother (Margery Eliscu, who was also a writer) was great-fun and interesting. And, you know, there was chocolate. definitely an enjoyable evening.
🙂
And then there was a surprise: there was a local celebrity in the room! Joe Cupo was a meteorologist for WCSH Channel 6 for 37 years and recently retired. That didn’t stop him from answering a few good-natured requests for what the weekend weather was going to be like. He was there with his wife to hear Kathy speak.
Shoot! What local celebrity might unexpectedly duck into my book signing? Patrick Dempsey? Hmmmm….after all, I did volunteer at The Dempsey Challenge last October, and will be volunteering there again this year. I did say nice things about him when I was (email) interviewed by the Lewiston newspaper last year. Plus, he was just in Freeport lounging up against the L.L. Bean boot a week or so ago…I’ll bet he’ll be dying to come to my reading!
Okay, so I invited him.
I’ll keep you posted.
🙂
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Book Review: What on Earth am I Doing Here?
To be honest, I didn’t want to read this book. Why? Because it’s about a difficult subject: The Holocaust. I have read extensively about this topic, watched movies (okay, with my glasses off for most of them-and I am extremely nearsighted), visited memorials, and discussed it in classes.
I thought I was done.
And then, my husband told me that I should read this book: What on Earth am I Doing Here? ‘What for?’ I asked. ‘Because it’s good’, he said.’How do you know about it?’ I asked. ‘I know the author,’ he replied.
At first, I said, ‘No thank you,’ ever so politely. However, I don’t like to disappoint my husband, so I decided to read it after all.
I couldn’t put it down. I literally read it in one sitting.
This is a seriously important book. I feel it’s sort of male version of The Diary of Anne Frank. It tells the story of one family’s experience surviving the Holocaust from the point of view of a ten-year old boy. It’s sort of cross between a creative memoir and historical fiction. As horrifying and terrifying as it is for me to read about this subject, this book is different. It has the innocence of the perspective of the young boy who is trying to make sense of the impossible, who doesn’t fully know or understand (as if anyone could) what was happening around him. About how they all miraculously survived with the help of brave friends and their mother’s courage, strength, and ingenuity.
Of course, he saw and experienced some terrible things, some of which are described in the book. In the end though, I was left with a hopeful feeling. It’s a story of how every single member of one family survived one of the worst ordeals in the history of the world.
NOTE: I read this book on Mother’s Day. I didn’t really think it was a natural choice for Mother’s Day reading…until I read it. The mother in this book is an amazing woman, and it’s largely due to her that they all made it through.
I have to say it again: THIS IS AN IMPORTANT BOOK. Read it.
After you read this book, read my book! One Brave Thing
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Get caught reading!
May is ‘Get caught reading!’ month. Why not get caught reading my book?
One Brave Thing! At your local bookseller and at Amazon.com, where you can preview it before you buy it.
This is a photo of my friend Charlotte who ‘got caught reading’ One Brave Thing at the beach in Florida! YAY! Where will you get caught reading One Brave Thing??
Post your photos in the comments below!
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My foremothers
This is the first Mother’s Day in 3 years that I have had the day off from work.
YAY!
It gave me more time to spend with my kids, for which I am endlessly grateful. It also gave me more time for reflection, for which I am also very grateful. In years past, I have gone to the ocean to remember my mother and grandmothers, which I got to do today.
In the past, I have written about ‘grieving my dead relatives’ quite often. Today, for some reason, I feel inspired to put up their wedding pictures instead.
My mother and grandmothers: strong, confident, capable women, all. Even if they didn’t always know it.
All are greatly loved and missed.
Just for fun, I am adding a wedding picture of my own (recently taken when renewing our commitment to one another).
Happy Mother’s Day!!
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Book Review: Pieces that Fit
Pieces That Fit: A Mother’s Journey Through Her Son’s Puzzling Diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome by Karen 
MacNeill is an important book for anyone to read that has, or wonders what it is like to have, a child with different needs in the school system. I found it to be immediately relatable. There are so many passages that could be a page out of my own life, from sitting at the IEP table (p 25. ‘…the process is exhausting…’) to putting undeserved trust in educators who ultimately proved unworthy of that trust. I also love that Chandler and his family found their way with the help of some wonderful teachers and other professionals who were committed to his growth and well-being, both at school and long-term.
This book also reveals how important it is for parents to take nothing for granted and to be strong advocates for their children. The hope is that as the child gets older and witnesses his or her parents modeling this behavior at IEP meetings and elsewhere, they will learn to advocate for themselves, which Chandler has clearly done well. Yay, Karen and Jim! Writing honestly about your real life experience is a difficult and brave thing to do. Bottom line: Read this book!
After you read this book, read my book! One Brave Thing
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May is Lupus Awareness Month!
May is Lupus Awareness Month!
In honor of my niece Lauren, 100% of the profits from One Brave Thing for May will be donated to help find a cure for Lupus! Spread the word!
https://www.facebook.com/k.m.creamer.author/?fref=nf
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