The Four Promises Children’s Book

It was eight years ago! My children’s book “The Four Promises” was transformed in to an app by StoryChimes. Shortly thereafter I turned the story in to a self published book on Amazon. I not only wrote it but also painted all the art work. Thinking back on it I don’t know how I did it. “A Tiny Fish Tale” was also turned in to an app. That was my first book. What’s so special about “The Four Promises” is that it was published in December, and the story is about my grandson and the words of wisdom his father shared with him before he was deployed to Iraq as an army surgeon. Since the app has never been updated to meet current operating system requirements I decided I should save the story by recording a bit of it off an old iPhone that still supports the rudimentary elements. I was so tickled to have the story accepted and created. Back in the day having an app was really special. It sold for ninety-nine cents! This week I sent the saved movie that was made of the app as it we playing to our grandson and asked him if his dad had had that conversation with him lately. He’s 17 years old now and has a lot of other things on his mind, but at least he remembered it. His mom had a much different take on it. It was a tough time for any family to be separated. That’s why it was so easy to write about. And being the holiday season, it’s a great story to think about it at least once a year. 

Operation We Are Here

I was looking at the usual suspect Twitter search saves the other day and noticed a comment from Operation We Are Here about there being only one children's app out there related to military deployments. Of course I wanted to let them know that was not the case. So I told them about my StoryChimes App that was published in December. It's called The Four Promises and is available as an Apple and Android app. Regardless of the situation, it's difficult for any kid to be without a parent for an extended period of time. If there is anything that can be done to make it easier, I'm all for it. I would think most people would think the same thing, Thanks Benita for adding it to the resource list.

A Tiny Fish Tale Israel

Back in November, one of my children's books - The Four Promises- was published through StoryChimes as an application in the Apple store, and then later as an Android App. Then in March of this year, my second book called A Tiny Fish Tale, was published the same way through StoryChimes. One is able to track the progress and daily ranks of the books on the App Annie website. I don't check the website that often, but yesterday I was nosing around to see if anything showed up. To my delight A Tiny Fish Tale was ranked in the Israel Apple Store. Sometimes it coincides with when iPads are launched in various countries. Regardless, it is nice to know that two little books I wrote are available in the App Store, and that someone has enough interest to see what they are all about. I'm not sure if it matters that this whole thing happened because we moved to DC from Milwaukee. But the stories were inspired by events that happened while living in DC. I've got a few more stories in the queue, and hope they have the same outcome.

The iPhone 4S

We got our first iPhones a little over two years ago. I got the 3GS, and my husband got the 3G. I remember it well because it was February and we had 2 snow storms within a couple days that left 2 feet of snow. Wisconsin NEVER had that much at one time! The Federal government was shut down for a week. With my new iPhone, I played a really neat interactive adventure game app called Broken Sword that got me hooked from that point. Since then, the iPad has literally changed my hobby life. I've written two children's books apps published through StoryChimes, started this blog, created a website called LIT Digital Art and Such, was a winner in The New Yorker Eustace Tilley contest, and have 2 digital art pieces on display at the Library of Congress. I'm waiting for the iPhone 5 to replace my phone, but thought the 4S would work well for my husband. It really has amazing functionality - reminds me of all the futuristic gizmos that were tauted at the World's Fair in New York back in the 60's. It's even more interesting to hear Siri actually respond to an accented command. I have always loved gadgets. And when we are together, I use his phone to get even better photos for my blog. I really wonder what the future holds - is there really a need to learn to spell and type? I'm beginning to wonder.


Converting over to the new phone

It really is amazing

Waiting for the iPhone 5

App Annie and The Four Promises StoryChimes

I have not looked at App Annie lately. When my StoryChimes books were published in December and March, I would check the website out once in a while to see if either one was ranked in the App store. So I checked it out yesterday and was surprised to see that The Four Promises was ranked number 46 in Kuwait. I'm not sure what that means exactly, but I really like the idea that someone across the globe can access a little book that I wrote on their IPhone, IPad, or Android device. I've got a few more stories in the queue, and hoping that they will eventually get published too. I always liked to write and draw, but I knew I wouldn't be able to make a living out of either. It sure is a great hobby though, and electronic devices and approaches to storytelling are changing. I'm just glad I'm in it now, and enjoying the whole process. Would it have happened in Wisconsin if I was still living there? I'm not so sure because the stories are about my grandsons and a fish.... and none of these events happened there.

It was at 46 yesterday

A Tiny Fish Tale- StoryChimes

My second children's book "A Tiny Fish Tale" was just published through StoryChimes! Just search for it in the Apple Apps Store. If you like it, give it a great rating and tell a friend. My illustrations were not used, but the storyboard is certainly the same. The IPad has changed my life! I always liked to sketch, and the IPad reignited my interest in art. I was a winner in The New Yorker Eustace Tilley cover contest last month with a digital submission using my borzoi as the subject. I just submitted 2 images for the Library of Congress Art Show, and am hoping to get another digital image on the cover of the Capitol Hill Community paper The Hill Rag. I'm hoping a few more stories make the grade, and eventually would love to have a website to showcase the art. Can I have a few more days off??

An Autograph Request

One of my colleague's suggested that an article be written in the Library's Gazette about the New Yorker Eustace Tilley Contest win, and the StoryChimes children's books. And so it happened, and it appeared last Friday in the Q&A section. I have received so many kind and positive comments about the article. This afternoon as I was working on a spreadsheet that was not cooperating, a young man knocked on my door. He said he read the article this weekend, and was hoping that he could get an autograph. I was flabbergasted and shocked. He is the father of a five year old and expressed a desire to write. The only thing I could think to tell him was that I probably could not have written any of these stories when I was his age. The stories are all based on real life experiences- and for some reason, makes the telling of the tale so much easier. But if it comes from the heart, and pulls at the strings- he may just have a winning idea in mind. In the end, he said he was going to frame it. You can only imagine how much he made my day- and it was completely unexpected.

From the Library of Congress Gazette

A unexpected surprise

The IPad Is In Demand

I love my Ipad - I've been saying that since I got the first generation device a couple years ago. And I have convinced several people that it is the wave of the future because it is just so simple to use. This morning, one of my colleagues - who primarily uses a blackberry, got an ipod touch for Christmas, and was telling me that she downloaded my just published digital StoryChimes book The Four Promises on to it. She said she loves her Ipod and wants to be buried with it with earphones and music playing on an eternal battery life. She then said she really wanted to get the next generation Ipad and Iphone because she can now see the merits of them all. When I came home for lunch, my husband was asking how he can use my Ipad to read The New Yorker since the hard copy is no longer being delivered and each month's issue is automatically available on Newsstand. He said the magazine comes to life on the Ipad. So, the Ipad 3 needs to come out soon so I can pass mine on to him, because my Ipad does not leave my hands all evening long. So until the second device arrives, he will be able to use it while I am at work- and that's about it.

My life is on this Ipad!

Thank You!

My friend reminded me the other day that my blog just celebrated the first year anniversary. I have been persistently and consistently entering some bit of information, observation, or art every day since it started. If I knew I was going to be away, I made sure to keep up with it using my IPhone. Its been a great learning experience. And since I started it, I have been really paying a lot of attention to my digital art. I created Picasa Web Albums, the LIT's Digital Art and Such Facebook page, connected the entries to Twitter, and published my first children's digital book through StoryChimes- with another one in the queue about a tiny fish, and three more cooking. You could say it's like my first annual report - or accomplishments in FY 11 - something we always need to do in any work place or for a performance evaluation. But this review is certainly more fun because it is all about doing the things I always loved to do - take pictures, draw, and write. Today I noticed that the number of page views surpassed the 5,000 mark! I never thought it would ever get that high so quickly. So I want to take a minute to thank you all for trying it out and hope you will continue to follow it for whatever reason. Thanks!

It all started a year ago

Thanks for looking around!

The Four Promises StoryChimes

I'm thrilled to announce that my first children's book, "The Four Promises," is now available as a StoryChimes app for the iPhone and iPad. Just go to the I-Tunes Store and search for "The Four Promises" from StoryChimes. If you like it, give it a great rating and then tell a friend! This has been a work in process for over a year. I have another one in the queue, "A Tiny Fish Tale," that is also due out soon. I've always liked journalism and writing- and so happy to see this book finally in print- and on the IPAD- my favorite device of all time.