Put a book into that Easter basket and enjoy reading together!
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Order a copy of My Dog, Me or a gift set that includes the book and a plush Australian Shepherd puppy with his name, Dundee, on the neck bandana. Free shipping! Please contact me if you'd like to purchase either of these unique gifts for Easter or anytime! 

                  $10 book only                                                   $22 book and plush Dundee     

​Giving back is part of being a writer, and I am pleased to say that I am working with a local assisted living community to provide residents an opportunity to share a holiday memory that I will transcribe for them on seasonal stationery. Hopefully, their families will enjoy this gift for many years to come.

Shameless plug - If you would like to purchase a copy of My Dog, Me, or if you already have a copy and would like to purchase a plush Australian Shepherd puppy (or both), please contact me here. 

On November 17, I was featured on The Doug Dahlgren weekly podcast. Click here to listen to our discussion. We talked about everything from writing children's books to securing illustrators and self-publishing. In addition, we discussed my adult novel, Bitter Sugar, and A Reindear Tale, a children's story about the year Santa's team was all female.
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​Thanks for tuning into The Doug Dahlgren Show. It was such fun! My Dog, Me is available through Amazon.com or on this website. The combo gift pack of the book and a stuffed Australian Shepherd puppy with “Dundee” on the bandana is $25. Please send me a note if you want to order one. Remember, the holidays are right around the corner! As always, thank you for supporting my dreams..

Hi All,

If you have a few minutes this Friday, November 17, tune in to The Doug Dahlgren Show. I am honored to be a guest on his podcast. The show airs at 11am EST.

Thanks! RP

So what does an author do when she needs a break? She auditions for community theatre. Yours truly as Mrs. Simpkins, an irreverent landlady, in A Mad Breakfast - a British farce. A star is born! NOT! Okay...maybe twinkle, twinkle? Thanks to all who attended; now back to the book...

You probably don't know that a long time ago I was a paid actress. So when a friend encouraged me to audition for community theatre, I thought, "I got this."  My role is a cantankerous, irreverent landlady (type casting?) in The Mad Breakfast. I am so bad the director had me work for hours on two separate occasions with more experienced actors.

​This experience has reminded me that the people who try our patience, often are doing the best they can. I have emerged kinder and more patient. But, alas, not more talented...  Do come to see the play if you are in the "hood." It's a British farce, one act. And you can applaud loudly for your "special" friend. Thank you, my very special friends. - RP

The Decatur Book Festival was great fun! Met lots of interesting writers, illustrators, agents, etc. Thanks to all who came to support yours truly and My Dog, Me. Seeing your smiling faces in the audience means more than you know.  

Back to the masochism – writing, that is. It’s the Agony and the Ecstasy for sure (but Irving Stone already said this… the title of his book about Michelangelo.) I vowed not to write another kids book, but a Christmas story about Santa’s reindeer being all female (male reindeer shed their antlers in winter, while females keep their antlers). Hence, all Santa’s famous reindeer are female. Except for Rudolph – he’s copyrighted (created in 1939) and the family that owns the copyright will not grant permission to use it. Kind of like Mickey Mouse, Ariel, Belle, etc. – don’t even THINK about using these characters without permission from Disney, and even if the answer is “Yes” the writer must be prepared to pay a fortune which far outweighs any real reason for using them. 

But all the other reindeer  – Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen (created in 1910) – are part of the public domain, so I can use them in a story without having to pay for the privilege. The same reason you can sing Amazing Grace in church on Sundays (published in 1779) without your church having to pay a copyright fee.
These reindeer names are all non-gender specific, so why not be female? As for the head reindeer, I decided to call her Ruby. She’s from a Russian herd. Poor thing got lost in the Arctic so Santa adopted her. Same for Donner and Blitzen (from German for Thunder and Lightning).  These two sisters got separated from their German herd. All the others have their own stories.  Wait ‘til you hear about Vixen…

It’s all great fun. Since Santa chooses a different team to guide his sleigh every year, it is a great honor. This particular year of an all-female team, the male reindeer are jealous. Plus, girls will be girls… Santa’s list flies overboard so all the children receive real surprises on Christmas Day. The “reindears” all recognize their individual gifts and appreciate teamwork. Finally, the story ponders the secular reason we send holiday cards, bake cookies, have parties, sing Christmas carols, reach out to those alone. For some people the year has been a difficult one - lost loves, illness, bereavement, shattered dreams, etc. Because some people have lost their joy, it behooves the rest of us to bring peace into their hearts so that they welcome the New Year with open hearts. Nice, huh?

Check back for Chapter one of Santa’s Dears; it’s sure to get you in the Christmas spirit (or spirits…).

Sending my love to all, esp. my Beta Readers who are helping me edit Bitter Sugar.  You’re the best!

​Hey, all you book lovers in the Atlanta area. Be sure to put the Decatur Book Festival on your calendars. This is the second largest book festival in the country. It’s a great opportunity to attend author talks and rub shoulders with famous and soon-to-be famous authors. Whether you are a reader or a writer, it’s always great fun to see the latest and greatest in print. Writers from all genres are represented from including novels, romance, fantasy, memoirs, non-fiction, even erotica.

Using My Dog, Me as an illustration, I will be speaking about the process of writing a young readers book from inception through final product on Saturday, Sept. 2 with two other children’s authors at 1:45 – 2:30PM  at the Marriott Conference Center (130 Clairemont Ave. Decatur 30030- about one block from the Decatur Square).  Books will be available for sale outside the conference room.

I will also be giving a short presentation at the Emerging Writers Tent on the Decatur Square earlier that day at 11:30 and will be signing books for a short while after that.

So, come on down for a fun day. You never know who you might run into…

Thanks so much for your consistent support and encouragement. I’ll look for you! For more information go to www.decaturbookfestival.com/ 

Thanks to everyone who came to My Dog, Me book signing at Half Price Books in Marietta. It is only with your support and suggestions that a writer can grow with the confidence to begin again.

I am in final edit for my adult novel, Bitter Sugar, a historical novel circa 1860 set on a Baton Rouge sugar plantation. It’s a whodunit – think Agatha Christie type plot and Pat Conroy style of writing. Of course, not even pretending to be in their league, but a great admirer of their work. I have been working on Bitter Sugar for many years. It’s finally ready to submit to an agent and worthy of publication by one of the big houses in NY. Will keep you posted.
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Thanks again for all your support. And remember, My Dog, Me makes a great gift for a young reader, ages 6-11. Contact me for an autographed copy of the book, or a gift set that includes the book and a plush Australian Shepherd puppy with a bandana printed with Dundee (the dog’s name). The book is also available on amazon.com.