A Rare Opportunity

February 29th is a rare day. We only see it once every four years. So it's the perfect day to observe Rare Disease Day.


All around the world, there will be events and projects  introduced to increase awareness of diseases that don't always make the news, that may not have a huge marketing organization. You might not realize that the following are considered "rare" :
       * Cystic Fibrosis
       * Huntington's Disease
       * Gauchers Disease
       * Spina Bifida
       * Ushers Syndrome
and my "favorite" one, Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)

Did you know:

 According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are nearly 7,000 such diseases affecting around 30 million Americans (about 1 in 10 people).  Also, less than 5% of these diseases have any type of treatment options and none of the 7,000 have a cure. Yet.


One in 10 people in the United States suffers with a rare disease. That makes it seem not so rare, doesn't it? It also makes you realize that you probably know a half dozen folks dealing with a rare disease!

 "Solidarity" is the 2012 theme and it focuses on the importance and the need for collaboration as well as mutual support in the field of rare diseases. 

In solidarity with me, a member of the rare-disease-club, check out this site  or go to this site  and click on the Raise Your Hand Campaign button. Each click = a $1.00 donation by Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals that goes toward research for rare diseases. (They're contributing up to $10,000 so click away!)

Happy Leap Day everyone. Please take a leap of faith and help out the millions of Americans who are hoping for treatment options and cures. Like me.        

                                                                     

                                     Where Did it Go?

I've lost my writing mojo. I don't know why or where it went. It was strong in January. And i've had some ideas running through my head, but nothing comes out on paper. None of the thoughts blossom.


I'm going to my regional SCBWI conference next weekend. I always find it inspiring and motivating to gather with other writers. So maybe I'll find my mojo there. Or maybe it will secretly tag along with me, hidden in the corner of my book bag.

I want my writing back. Soon. Please.

 

What I Did on My Vacation  
(and book giveaway winner)

    Sounds like the school assignment we always got after Winter Break, right?

    Well, I went to visit my family in Boston and we continued our holiday tradition of spending four days over Christmas in New Hampshire. It was slightly different this year as my oldest nephew was missing. Don't feel too bad for him; he was on a trip in Israel for almost 3 weeks! He'll be back this week with tales to tell, I'm sure.

     We had a cold (-4 degrees Christmas Eve) and somewhat snowy day or two that you can see here. 

Not a fault line crack; it's the creek through the property!

We ate dinner Christmas Eve with my nephew's friend and his family in a charming, quaintly decorated New England cottage with antique furniture, old-fashioned floral wallpaper, floor vents in the creaky, hardwood floors, and a dining table smack in the middle of the small kitchen (complete with a cupboard that had hammered tin inset panels in the doors). No pictures, unfortunately. I'd never met these folks before and thought it might seem a little creepy to start taking pictures of their house! 

     The drive to their house took us on isolated roads and we saw some of these signs!  Dusk is feeding time, I'm told, for moose. We were driving at dusk. Yeah, I hear some of you going "big deal, the moose is probably more afraid of you and won't come near you."      Oh how wrong you are!

     Last fall, my family was in New Hampshire, traveling on similar roads, at a similar time. Without warning a HUGE female moose came running across the road (even girl moose don't want to miss feeding time) right in front of their car. So close that she left moose mud- at least they think it was mud- on the bumper and hood. Thank goodness they were only going about 40-45 mph and were able to stop. But it scared the bajeebees out of EVERYONE. [And although no one admits it, I'm betting there was some extra laundry to do that night, if you get my drift.] 

For many of us this picture to the right comes to mind  when one says "moose".                

The reality is more like this one on the left and between 10-15 feet tall. So next time you're in moose country, remember WE are the visitors there and you need to brake for moose!  

                            *drum roll*

The winner of Untraceable by S.R. Johannes is..........

Jenelle R !!        
Congrats to you. Please email me your snailmail address so I can get this fabulous book into your hands.  kidlitgail at gmail dot com         

                    Where Have I Been? 
              (And a Giveaway) (Oh, and a writing contest)

      The last time I posted, it was November. Now it's almost no longer December! Where have I been? Here's the list:
 
* in Boston for a week over Thanksgiving
* taxing my brain all November thinking up picture book ideas for the Picture Book Idea Month challenge (30 ideas in 30 days.Yeah... I Did It. Go girl!)
* Working hard to help out the Foundation Fighting Blindness, my favorite charity, with several events, like the monthly support group I help lead.

Okay Gail, so whatcha been doing most of December???????

Um....... reading......writing.......making jewelry for Chanukah presents. Playing hookey [sorry!]

      One of the books I've been reading is a fabulous book by a wonderful writer buddy. You might know her..Shelli Johannes-Wells (writing as S.R. Johannes)
Her debut novel, called Untraceable. It's an awesome read and tough to put down. Here's the description:
         Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival. When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him.
         One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape and find her father. Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder.
         And it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves.

Intriguing, right? Well, hold on because here's where the GIVEAWAY comes in. I bought 2 copies of Untraceable, one for me and one for YOU. Or maybe you over there reading on your iPad. Anyway, you have until midnight on January 1st to enter. The winner will be announced on January 2nd.

RULES:
*You must be a signed-up follower of this blog to enter.
*Leave a comment on this blog post, with your email address  for a chance to win.
*Tweet about this giveaway (send me a link), one chance.

*FB shout-out about the giveaway (send me a link) is another opportunity.

* Give me a shout-out on your blog, another chance. (send me a link)

Are you with me so far? You're up to 4 possible chances.

*Get someone new to become a follower and get 2 bonus chances (be sure to tell me their name or have them mention your name in the comment left.)

How can you resist? Six possible chances to win this exciting new book.

Ready, set, go social media this giveaway! Good luck!

Now for the writing contest. 

Children's book author, Susanna Leonard Hill has a holiday writing contest. Either write a poem, based on Twas the Night Before Christmas or a story of 350 words or less. This only goes until Thursday, December 22nd so think and write fast. Your entry needs to be posted on your own blog, or if you don't have a blog, it needs to be pasted into the comments on her blog post. You might win a $15 Amazon gift card or the 2012 Children's Writers and Illustrators Market book. I actual found out about this contest on a blog written by a 12 year old boy. He wrote an entry and man, he will be hard to beat! Your poem/story can be about any winter holiday, or just wintry. If you're curious for all the details, click here

      So without further ado, here's my entry. Disclaimer: I'm not that good at poetry. Or rhyming. Especially long, rhyming poems with many stanzas. Okay, now here's my entry, for real.

Chanukah Nights

by Gail Handler

Twas the week before Chanukah

Mama said, "Kenahora!

I forgot to buy candles

to fill the menorah!"

"Oh where should I go

to buy Chanukah lights,

Forty-four are needed

for all the eight nights."

"To Publix? Or Target?

To WalMart? Online?

Oh, the synagogue gift shop

might work out just fine."

"Now I need to buy presents

Some big and some small,

But this time of year

I won't go to a Mall."

"So it's shopping online

for everyone in our group,

Web sites will gift wrap

So children can't snoop."

Fast forward eight days

Chanukah has arrived

with the out-of-town relatives

(we hope we'll survive.)

Sing songs, play some dreidel

Watch candles burn bright 

Jewish children get presents,

Spread over eight nights.

Chanukah lasts a whole week

filled with fun, food, and joy

Like potato pancakes and applesauce

or jelly donuts, oh boy!

So Happy Chanukah friends

spelled with one "k" not two

And if you're not Jewish

then Merry Christmas to you!

             Holiday Overload

     Here's hoping everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with family and/or friends! If your family is like mine, there's an overload of yummy food and leftovers for several days.

     And the shopping overload begins today. Personally, I stay away from the malls until after January 1st! But I LOVE to shop at my local independent stores.To me, that feels like a way to help our economy.

        I was thrilled to see television advertising Small Business Saturday. Tomorrow, if you plan to do any shopping, please go to a small business and help them out. It could be in your neighborhood, it could be a shop you've seen and always wanted to check out. You can even make a purchase via the Internet because small businesses have web sites too, you know!


      So, while you're feeling thankful for all the joy and bounty in your life, bring some of that joy to others and "shop small" tomorrow! 

And enjoy yourself some football while you're at it.... Go Blue! [University of Michigan Wolverines]

               Veteran's Day

      This coming weekend is Veteran's Day weekend. With the United States' presence in Iraq and Afganistan, soldiers and veterans are frequently in the news and should be in our thoughts and prayers.


Parade Magazine last Sunday had a wonderful article sharing ways anyone can help a veteran; things you can do all year long. I will list a few of them, but I'd encourage you to follow the link and read the article yourself.

1.  Volunteer transportation to medical appointments.
 Disabled American Veterans (DAV) needs volunteers to drive a van of vets to VA medical facilities. Want more info? Go to www.dav.org/volunteers

2. Offer foster care for a pet.
Why not offer to take in a cat or dog for a deployed soldier or wounded one still on duty who's receiving medical treatment. Contact  www.guardianangelsforsoldierspet.com  for more info.

3. Old cell phone, good use.
Instead of tossing an old cell phone, why not give it to Cell Phones For Soldiers. For each donated phone, the organization will pay for an hour of talk time for troops overseas. Contact:  www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com


The next one is my favorite!

4. Cut coupons.
Did you know that military families are allowed to use coupons for 6 months past the expiration date? Neither did I! That's fantastic and such an easy way to help out. From now on, all my expired coupons AND the ones in the paper I don't use are going to this site: www.coupsfortroops.com

       In addition to these ways to help out veterans (and our deployed troops) please forward the following web site to any veteran you know. The restaurants and companies listed  provide a free  or discounted meal on a specific day during this Veteran's weekend. Check them carefully and you might get free food all weekend long!

http://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-day-free-meals-and-discounts

      So to our troops and veterans: Thank you for your service, your bravery, your courage, and your dedication to the security of our country and others. While we salute you this coming weekend, you deserve our praise and respect all year long.

                                         

   

                   Blog Awareness



         If you've been a part of the blogosphere any time in the past few years, you are most certainly familiar with 
Shelli Johannes-Wells's blog Market My Words. Between marketing strategies, writing tips [now including self-publishing an eBook], book reviews, and interviews Shelli finds time to offer giveaways. BOOK giveaways. Who doesn't love free books??!

        Currently Shelli is preparing to give away a bunch of MG and YA books. I repeat....who doesn't love free books?

All you need to do is comment on her blog, leave your own blog address and your email address. Then share the blog-love on your blog so others can join in.

         What a fabulous way to discover bloggers you don't know. And maybe find a few more followers. I signed up on 20 new blogs.  Woo Hoo!