donna o'donnell figurski Author
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    • A Book is Born
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    • Sneak Peek 3
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YOUR CART

                                                                           Itty-Bitty Newsletter
                                       December 2021


             Bundle of Joy
     A Stork just dropped a bundle of joy into our family.   
                                                                             
     Willow Marie was born to Emily Hanlon Figurski and Jared Figurski on November 26, 2021, at 8:22 a.m.

     We (Grandpa David and Granny Donna) are so excited to have her join our lives. We can't wait to meet her!
*************************************************************************************************
                             
                 What's Up?


THANKSGIVING
     I enjoyed turkey with my family this year, and, as always, I was gently reminded of the many things, events, and people that I am thankful for. This summer David and I added a new addition to our family––“li’l pup.” Her real name is “Cricket,” and she is amazing!
 
     My friends know that I am not fond of dogs––I avoid them as much as I can. So what happened?

     The short story is that Cricket rounded the corner in the pet shop, our eyes met, we instantly fell in love, and I rescued this 13-year-old “pup.” This cute little Shih-Poo (Shih-Tzu Poodle) is my forever-dog. (Of course, my husband, David, will always be top dog, and I am most grateful that he is forever in my life.)


    
     How could I resist that lovable face? The fact is I couldn’t!
 
     You can read the full story about this love affair on my newest blog, Bookity Blog (donnafigurski.com/bookity-blog).
 *************************************************************************************************
HEY! My BIRTHDAY is Coming!

     It's just around the corner - December 7th.

            I don't want any gifts.
  
    Oh WAIT! Yes, I do!

     I want Book Reviews for my book, Prisoners Without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale.


         And Don't Forget …

                       Give BOOKS!
                                  for the Holidays
                         
Print Books!
                   eBooks!
                                Audio Books!


     Then Write a Review! (Reviews are a book's best friend.)

Prisoners (print) Amazon US Paperback
Prisoners (eBook)  Amazon US eBook
Prisoners (audiobook) Amazon Audiobook

Prisoners (print) Barnes and Noble Paperback
Prisoners (eBook)  Barnes and Noble eBook

Prisoners (print) IndieBound
Prisoners (eBook) Kobo
*************************************************************************************************
  Coming Your Way!

     As Prisoners Without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale is making its way to readers around the world, I have been busy working on new books.

In a Nutshell:

     If I Ran the School: A Play Yard for Learning is completed and is being formatted for submission. I can't wait to share the 35+ years of my teaching-life with you. If you have ever wanted to be a fly on the wall of an Early Childhood Education classroom, this is it!

     You can peek into my truly innovative classroom, which the children thoroughly enjoyed, as I share my creative style of teaching with you. This book is for all readers who have ever traveled through the U.S. education system; for parents who want to know more about what happens, or should be happening, behind the doors of their children's classrooms; and for all future, present, and former teachers.

     If I Ran the School flows like a beach-read. The book is informative, but simple and fun, and it includes many anecdotal tales from my classroom.

     I hope you read it and love it! AND ... don't forget to share your enjoyment with ... everybody.

     Education in America certainly needs to be revamped. This is my small contribution.

                                                                                                      ***

     Conversations (working title) is a book that I am writing with co-author Deb Brandon.  A draft of the complete book is nearly finished  
    
                      

     Deb, a survivor of brain injury, and I, the caregiver for my husband, David, who is a survivor of a traumatic brain injury, meet each week via Zoom to discuss pertinent topics about brain injury. We examine the radically altered lives of brain-injury survivors and caregivers through our unique lenses. While survivors and caregivers have very different experiences and insights, they have the same objective of trying to live with a new normal. We hope that our book, in which we voice our different perspectives, will be an eye-opener not only for survivors and caregivers, but also for anyone wishing to learn more about brain injury.        

                                                                                                   ***

     Picture books  Reading and writing children’s picture books have been passions of mine for more than 30 years. In the late 1990s, after attending writing classes at Teachers College at Columbia University and being encouraged by my instructors and fellow teacher-classmates, I began the long, arduous process of writing and submitting children's-picture-book manuscripts. In doing so, I learned the stresses and hassles of the publishing market for children's picture books.
                                    
                           

     What I learned was that you not only have to write well and tell a good tale, but you must also have lots of patience and persistence. I know that I have those qualities. After three decades of trying, I'm still pursing publication of about eight picture-book stories.
 
     Agents and editors have encouraged me along the way by holding out “carrots” with their words of praise. The only problem is that their praise is often followed by the word “BUT.”  Below are some examples. More can be seen at https://donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/musings-by-donna-57-love-it-but/
 
     It's a funny, charming story, but …
 
     Your writing is “on the cusp,” but …
 
     The best aspect of the story is its humor. That means it’s got lots of kid appeal. It’s got rhythm and meter and a fine use of language. You know kids, but …
 
     I would be happy to consider anything else you may write for a young audience.

    Breaking into the children's-picture-book market is not for the faint of heart. I will trudge on.
More on BOOKITY Blog!
Please subscribe to BOOKITY Blog on my website, donna o'donnell figurski - author. It's just plain fun.
     Read a few stories here.
     Have you ever fallen in love at first glance. I have! My first time was when I saw David at a dance in Erie, PA. I was only 16-years-old. My second time was in June 2021 when I met Cricket. She stole my heart just like David did.

      READ!
Cricket-Love at First Sight!
                                       or
     What do princesses and football have to do with each other?

      READ!
Football and Princesses
                                    or
     You might want to just pop on over and see what else is there.
    
     See you on Bookity Blog.
*************************************************************************************************
Excerpt from...           
Prisoners without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale

 
Chapter 1 Everything's Blurry
     Just after 7:00 a.m., David stumbled into our bedroom. His hand covered his right eye. “I can’t see!” he cried, panic in his voice. “Everything’s blurry!
                            
     Pain etched his face as he collapsed on the bed. When he removed his hand, his right eye was filled with blood. He told me he had been doing chin-ups. He did thirteen of them—one more than he had done the day before. That’s David—always pushing, trying to surpass his last accomplished goal, only to surpass that achievement the next time. I remember thinking, Why? Why did you have to do one more? Why wasn’t twelve enough? Or ten or even five? But it wasn’t enough. It never was                  .                                                                                        I wanted to call the paramedics. I had the phone in my hand. It was like a lifeline, but David refused to let me call. He wanted to wait a few more minutes to see if his pain subsided. He sat at the edge of the bed, continuing to cover his eye. Soon the pain spread. I told him to tell me what was happening in case I had to tell a doctor. The pain spread down his cheek, then through his forehead. As it intensified, it moved quickly to the back of his head, and I would wait no longer. He agreed. I dialed 9-1-1.

     Please check your local book haunts for your copy now.

Prisoners (print) Amazon US Paperback
Prisoners (eBook)  Amazon US eBook
Prisoners (audiobook) Amazon Audiobook

Prisoners (print) Barnes and Noble Paperback
Prisoners (eBook)  Barnes and Noble eBook

Prisoners (print) IndieBound
Prisoners (eBook) Kobo

 
Sending warm, healing hugs from my desert! 
 
 
   P.S. If you wish to opt out of my newsletter, please send an email to me at Donna.
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P.P.S. Of course, I hope you'll read my book. If you do, please post a review (Amazon, B&N & Goodreads). They’re very important!

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