Sunday, March 16, 2014

Grambo is Coming!

You may think I am biased and you would be right. I am very proud of our daughter, Beth, for many things but particularly for her dedication and love of writing, especially children's stories. She is the person, in fact, that I look to whenever I have questions or guidance when it comes to writing.

Grambo is Beth's second children's book (thank you Be There Bedtime Stories) and I see the growth in her style and story. I love her idea of challenging stereotypes by having the main character, a grandma, as a spy. I know a number of "grandmas" that are young at heart and spirit and who actually could be spies now that I think about it! Intriguing to consider.

Having a secret code as part of the experience is a great idea - perfect for a children's "spy" story. It gets the  young reader even more involved in trying to solve the puzzle. It's a story that a child will enjoy reading over and over. And the illustrations by Betsy Hamilton add so much for the reader to vividly see and embody the characters and the story line.

I think your child, grandchild, niece, nephew or friend of the family will enjoy Grambo.

Grambo will be available on Amazon starting March 26th! Help get Grambo on the Amazon bestseller list on launch day!

Here are prizes when you buy on launch day March 26:
Buy four or more books: You get one more book free! Plus the prizes below.
Buy three books: You get an 8X10 Grambo illustration print autographed by the illustrator, plus the prizes below.
Buy two books: You get a gift certificate for one Be There Bedtime Stories online book, plus the prize below.
Buy one book: You get a discount! (It will already be shown on the amazon link.)

To receive your prize, email your amazon receipt to grambobook@gmail.com  by April 15th with the address where you’d like your prize. You will receive it by June 1st  2014.

Thank you for supporting young, talented and dedicated writers.















Friday, March 14, 2014

FIBIGO

When I go shopping I like to have something specific in mind for the hunt and my approach is simple - Find it, Buy It and Get Out (FIBIGO).

The idea of meandering about a store or a mall window shopping waiting for that elusive moment of discovering the perfect gift or item for myself is shear madness. Anyone else with me on this one? For those that find this activity relaxing, fun or even inherent to life itself, god bless you and keep on trucking. After all it's great for the economy. And if in someway it nurtures your soul....who can argue with that.

But for me....it's FIBIGO!

There is one place where this approach will not fly. Ever been to IKEA?

The name IKEA is derived from the founder's initials and hometown in Sweden. But it could also be -   I Know Everything Already.

Whenever I make a trip to IKEA I know two things for certain:

1.) I have to order their swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce, which I don't really believe is horsemeat - well, at least not in the U.S.), and

2.) FIBIGO is toast.

I do give them some credit for providing maps throughout the store to make sure customers know where you are (red dot indicating "you are here") and the location of the departments to explore. Explore is the operative word. Every time I make this trek I feel like I should be wearing Asolo TPS 520 GV hiking boots, a Grivel Freney 50 Backpack (made from heavy duty ECOFABRIC complete with butterfly frame system and a hip belt that has zippered pockets for accessories and wraps aroudn your hips with ergonomically shaped air foam) and a supply of energy bars and water. There is no way of telling how long I will be "in there".

I would be willing to bet a complete MALM desk set that "Mr. IKEA" spent a lot of time in a casino or two in Las Vegas or Monaco. Casinos and IKEA use a similar design principle - absolutely no straight paths across the structural space. And those "short cut" signs - I think I finally figured out that they really just take you back to the office furniture that you passed 20 minutes ago.

Red Dot - "YOU ARE HERE"

No, actually I think I am in the twilight zone.

I knew I should have left some bread crumbs to find my way back out.

I MAZE
I SURRENDER
I GIVE UP
I 'M LOST

IKEA

What was it I was looking for again?