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Man, what a dumb word: Oops!

"Oops, I accidentally dropped a 40 megaton bomb on the state of New Mexico."

"Oops, I guess that pistol WAS loaded."

"I just fired myself out of a cannon into a cauldron of hot, bubbly magma. Oops."

Anyway, I just thought I should come right out and tell you that I don't know when to leave well enough alone. I sent off a query letter for my 'little-story-that-couldn't' THE SHORT BUS JOURNAL out to an agent this afternoon.

I didn't mean to. It just sort of happened.

Maybe it's some of my friends kind of prompting me not to give up on it or maybe it's just because I think it still has some life left in it.

I don't know.

I guess we'll see what happens. And hey, you'll be the first to know, deal?

Solid.

RUMOR ALERT: It's been said that a mystery box has appeared on the front steps of a certain house in Woodbury, MN (my house!). In it, there could be a bunch of long-overdue author copies of some sort or the other. Stay tuned for all the details...

...and a contest.

*backflips and spins twice in the air before landing in a dumpster full of Orange Tic-Tacs*

Like a lot of things in my frantic world, this is long overdue.

I got a rejection card from Houghton Mifflin, oh...a month or so ago, but I just didn't have the heart to talk about it. And it's not because I had all my last hopes for THE SHORT BUS JOURNAL riding on their thumbs up or thumbs down. It was more like...the official end of the line for my little book that could(n't).

*sigh*

But here's the cool thing: The rejection was a decent one. I know it's poor form to post stuff about your rejections, but dang it, I thought this one was pretty friggin' sweet as far as big company publishing rejections go. See for yourself.

If you click it, it'll get all big like.

• First of all, they plugged the name of my book at the very top of the card. Nice!
  
• Second, the went so far as to call me Dear Mr. Troupe. (For a minute I thought the card was for my dad, then I remembered he doesn't live at my house, so I knew it was for me. Also, he doesn't write books about kids who have no disabilities but are forced to ride the short bus with kids who do. Wait a second...he doesn't write any books.)
  
• Third, they underlined 'Thank you' on the first line. I thought it was a decent touch. Hey, I'm easy like Sunday morning.
• Fourth, they underlined the word 'sorry.' You know what? I believe them.
  
• Fifth, they mention that because they get so many manuscripts, they can't offer individual comment on people's work. That's understandable. Remember this when we get toward the bottom here, okay? Thank you.
• Sixth, they underlined 'every success' as in they wish I had some when it comes to finding a home for my book. Also, they added an '!' at the end of the sentence where they hope my material can find a good home!
  
• Seventh...they left an individual comment!

All children mirror themselves through the eyes of their parents.

Our parents reflect our first mirror image, instructing us on our identity

before we ourselves are aware of our own individuality.

That is why it is important to remember the effect our behavior has on our children.

When children suffer from abuse and neglect they are already afraid, angry, and distrustful of

adults, so he helps when non-profit organizations help to strengthen families , and prevent

children from entering institutions or end up on the streets.

Actually many of these parents just need help coping with addictive or mental disorders, and if

given the opportunity these same parents are able to turn themselves and their families around.

Where do kids who suffer neglect or abuse at the hand of parents go in the summer?

Where do parents who want to turn things around for their families go to get help?

These are questions I asked myself recently and decided to fish around on the internet to find

out. You can find many different non-profit organizations who help families deal with crisis

through your local department of social services, the division of mental health, and juvenile

courts in your state. I wish I could write a post on all of them, however I can't, not in a day

anyway, so I decided to write about CHRIS Kids; an accredited member of the Council on

Accreditation of Services For Families and Children, and a member of the Child Welfare League

of America.

CHRIS kids is keeping families together in the greater Atlanta area, together with the help of

Chris kids, parents are developing the skills and the resources they need be effective parents.

Chris kids partners with families, involving grandparents, aunts, and other relatives in helping

parents become self-sufficient and strong.

Chris kids summer camp is a no-eject nine week camp for children who cannot attend regular

summer camps.


Every year Chris kids and other children's non-profit organizations lose the necessary funding

that helps provide families with these valuable resources.

By giving to CHRIS Kids and other children's services you are sending children to camp who

would otherwise lack the resources to attend. Thus, providing these children with strength,

courage, hope, and a summer of fun at summer camp!


Chris Kids -"Healing children, Strengthening families, Building Community"

A Nice Place In The Sun










A Nice Place In The Sun