I am excited to share that Frankie book #2 is completely edited and ready for the illustration stage!! Yippee! Yahoo! I had hoped to have final editing complete by June 1st, but finished way ahead of schedule.
I'm also excited to share the title with you and what the book is about. Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby's House. Frankie became a registered therapy dog in September. Libby's House is a senior assisted facility we have been visiting once a month since October (I'm thrilled they have given me permission to use their name in the title!!). Frankie made a very special connection at Libby's House with a wonderful man we refer to as "Daniel" in the book. That connection inspired me to write this book. It is based on true stories of some of the people we have met at Libby's House. I also interjected a memoryof my grandma into the story as well. Even though she was not at Libby's House, I remember how she told me the story of a wiener dog, Schutzie, every time I visited her at the nursing home and I just had to share the story in memory of my grandma.
My grandma had dementia just like many of the residents at Libby's House. My hopes with the book is to educate children about the elderly and help them understand the things the elderly may do or say that they tthemselves don't always understand… and for children to not fear the elderly.
The same day I received the final edit of my book, I received an audio newsletter from Ageless Sages (books for elders) and a children's poem from Shel Silverstein that Natalie read. I thought it so appropriate to end with:
THE LITTLE BOY AND THE OLD MAN
Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."
Said the little old man, "I do that too."
The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."
"I do that too," laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, "I often cry."
The old man nodded, "So do I."
"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems Grown-ups don't pay attention to me."
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
"I know what you mean," said the little old man.
I'd like to give a very special THANK YOU to my awesome editor and wonderful lady, Yvonne Perry of Writer's in the Sky for editing Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby's House."