It’s been months since I’ve written a blog post, but it’s time to pick myself up by my bootstraps and get going again. What a year this has been! I’ve bounced around a number of ways to approach this return to my blog. I even started down a path of several paragraphs talking about how when times get tough, the tough keep going. But that path also led me into a “true confessions and soul searching” direction that just didn’t feel right. So, I’m going to try a more direct approach to where I’ve been, what I need to do, and where I’m going. I’ll start with where I’ve been.
Please forgive any weird formatting issues. WordPress decided to change it’s format while I was away. I need a little more time to learn it.
Who Knew?
When my latest books were scheduled for release, who knew that we would be challenged with a pandemic that has changed nearly everyone’s life? Who knew that my first picture book in ages, An Old Man and His Penguin: How Dindim Made João Pereira de Souza an Honorary Penguin, would be released eighteen days after I had knee replacement surgery? Who knew that the surgery would still be holding me back nearly four months later? Who knew that my next picture book, The Weed that Woke Christmas: The Mostly True Tale of the Toledo Christmas Weed, would be released four days after my oldest brother’s death? Who knew that book two in the Sienna, the Cowgirl Fairy chapter book Series, Cowboy Trouble, would be rescheduled for 2021? Who knew, that my first picture book, Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa’s tenth anniversary would slip by without acknowledgement or celebration? Who knew that it would be picked up by Clear Fork Publishing under the Blue Whale Press imprint, and continue selling all these years later?
My Brother and Me–I will miss him, but I carry him in my heart.
I didn’t know that my exciting book launches and the wonderful year I had planned for all of my beloved books would all come crashing down around me. I’ve been knocked down, but I’m getting back up (broken heart, bum knee, and all) and moving forward.
Trying to get in the spirit in spite of my challenges.
What I Need to Do and Why I Need to Do It
I need to make up for lost time and share the news of my books with y’all. I feel compelled to do this because I feel it’s only fair to the illustrators (Milanka Reardon and Polina Gortman) who worked so hard on my picture books. And it’s only fair to the beautiful books and heartwarming stories that people should get an opportunity to read them. It’s only fair that the kids and adults who will read them should be made aware that the books even exist. It’s only fair to João Pereira de Souza and Dindim to have their story told. It’s only fair to the citizens of Toledo, Ohio and the little weed that their story of unity be told when it seems we’ve forgotten how to love and care about one another as human beings. Along those same lines, I feel like I have an obligation to humanity to share these stories of love and kindness. They both touched my heart, and I want to reach as many other hearts as I possibly can.
You can help me and the illustrators as well as readers by requesting the books at your library and writing reviews. I would be forever grateful.
Future Posts
Keep an eye out for future posts. I’m going to start a new series called Arc Angels where published authors will analyze each other’s books and share with you how each made their stories shine by using the classic narrative and/or character arcs. I expect there will be prizes and giveaways along the way. I plan to share the very first version of Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa with my crude illustrations and all. I will also share how the book started as one thing and ended up being another. And I’ll soon have a book trailer for Cowboy Trouble to share.
There are lots more great posts to come, but I will save them for surprises.
THE WEED THAT WOKE CHRISTMAS: THE MOSTLY TRUE TALE OF THE TOLEDO CHRISTMAS WEED
BOOK TRAILER
Review Excerpts
“A heartwarming holiday tale that proves even the littlest things can make a big difference.” —Kirkus Reviews
“The fine message about holiday spirit makes for a perfect read for parents seeking stories that encourage kids to feel empowered to begin changes that cross age and economic barriers. The Weed That Woke Christmas is a lovely, positive, much-needed story for modern times.” —D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“This sweet story is accompanied by lush illustrations by Gortman, who portrays Toledo’s citizens as diverse. The author manages to convey the importance of charity and community without making the tale mawkish or trite. She closes the text with the real story of the Christmas Weed and the hope that the holiday magic will continue.” —Kirkus Reviews
Description
This heartwarming and inspiring book proves that even the smallest gestures can make a big difference and transform apathy and oblivion into awareness, unity, community, kindness and hope. Partly truth and partly fiction, it is based on the true story of how a weed on a Toledo street corner helped spread the giving spirit far beyond its traffic island home. All Weed wants is to be seen, but people are in too much of a hurry to notice each other, let alone Weed. Weed watches, wishes, and waits until finally someone does see it. But Weed discovers that there is something far bigger and more important than a little weed being noticed.
Where to Buy
Buy wherever books are sold and . . .
Amazon Hardcover
https://www.amazon.com/Weed-That-Woke-Christmas-Mostly/dp/0981493815
Amazon Softcover
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981493823/
Booktopia
Book Depository
Barnes and Noble
Indie Bound
https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780981493817
Booktopia
AN OLD MAN AND HIS PENGUIN: HOW DINDIM MADE JOÃO PEREIRA DE SOUZA AN HONORARY PENGUIN BOOK TRAILER
Review Excerpts
“A moving, affectionate, and joyful tale, all the more so for being true.” – Kirkus Reviews
“An Old Man and His Penguin holds a number of important messages about human/animal relationships, love, oil slicks and their impact on sea life, and loneliness. . . . its underlying focus on letting go and reaping rewards from non-possessiveness offers an outstanding lesson about love for the very young.” —D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“Adults looking for an inviting animal story with an important message will welcome this appealingly different seaside tale.” —D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“The underlying lesson about compassion and good stewardship is subtle but effective; an author’s note explains the real-life circumstances. Reardon, who also illustrated the penguin-themed Noodles’ & Albie’s Birthday Surprise (2016), deftly captures the story’s charm and expressiveness.” —Kirkus Reviews
Description
Off the coast of Brazil, João rescues a lifeless, oil-covered penguin (Dindim) and nurses him back to health. Dindim adopts João as an honorary penguin, and the steadfast friends do everything together. They swim together, fish together, and stroll the beach together. But there are real penguins somewhere across the sea. So one day, Dindim leaves João. The villagers tell João the penguin will never come back. João cannot say if he will or will not. Are the villagers right? Will Dindim ever patter into his old friend’s loving arms again?
Where to Buy
Wherever books are sold and . . .
Amazon Hardcover
https://www.amazon.com/Old-Man-His-Penguin-Honorary/dp/173289356X/
Amzon Softcover
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1732893578/
Book Depostitory
Barnes and Noble
Books-A-Million
https://www.booksamillion.com/search?id=7861112761623&query=An+Old+Man+and+His+Penguin&filter=
Indie Bound
https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781732893566
Booktopia
https://www.booktopia.com.au/an-old-man-and-his-penguin/book/9781732893566.html
SHORT NEWS VIDEO ABOUT THE REAL CHRISTMAS WEED
I chose to share this video because the narrator gives a sense of the heart of the story that ended up in my book THE WEED THAT WOKE CHRISTMAS: THE MOSTLY TRUE TALE OF THE TOLEDO CHRISTMAS WEED.
ANOTHER SHORT NEWS VIDEO ABOUT THE REAL CHRISTMAS WEED
I chose to share this video because it does a good job of showing the community coming together.
A SHORT NEWS VIDEO ABOUT JOAO AND DINDIM THE PENGUIN
BOOK LAUNCH POSTS
Thank you to all my friends who helped me share the news of my books via social media when I couldn’t! There are too many to mention, but you know who you are.
Thank you friends who featured my books on your blogs!!!!
My brain is still somewhat foggy, so if I’ve forgotten anyone, please forgive me and feel free to add your post in a comment.
The Weed That Woke Christmas
Vivian Kirkfield’s Picture Book Friday Post
Perfect Picture Book Friday: THE WEED THAT WOKE CHRISTMAS Plus Giveaway
Kathy Temean shares my book journey on her Writing and Illustrating blog.
Rosie Pova interviews me on her Chitchat blog.
https://www.rosiejpova.com/blog/chitchat-with-author-editor-and-publisher-alayne-kay-christian
Keep an eye out for my KidLit411 feature coming in November.
An Old Man and His Penguin
Janie Reinart interviews me on the GROG blog.
https://groggorg.blogspot.com/2020/07/she-wears-many-hatsinterview-with.html
Vivian Kirkfield features An Old Man and His Penguin on her blog.
Alayne Kay Christian: Will Write for Cookies Plus GIVEAWAY
Kathy Temean shares Milanka Reardon’s and my book journey for an Old Man and His Penguin or on her Writing and Illustrating blog.
Kathy Temean features Milanka Reardon’s art process for An Old Man and His Penguin.
https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2020/05/09/illustrator-saturday-milanka-reardon/
Alayne Kay Christian 