The Able Archers Book Event

We love going to book events at the Library of Congress. When I worked there for ten years my husband would oftentimes meet me at lunch time or after work to attend any number of events. And since I retired it is always a pleasant experience to wander about the beautiful Jefferson Building and enjoy the surroundings. So when we learned a resident in our building had written a book, we were looking forward to attending the event that would be held in our building. We ordered the book “The Able Archers” beforehand and were hoping to get an autograph at the end of the session. What was nice is that we didn’t have to fight the traffic and find a parking space on Capitol Hill. Our commute was about two minutes to the meeting room. There were several people in attendance. It was very interesting to learn about the process and the general story line. Obviously the author, Brian Morra, is very well versed in the subject matter and has a remarkable background. We had met both he and his wife at a gathering a couple of years ago mid Covid and he said he was writing a book. There is also a contract for a movie or series. That must be so exciting! I’m always impressed by anyone who has written and published. My three children’s books that I wrote and also illustrated were self published on Amazon after the more than I can count rejections I received. What was more interesting was that the author knows a friend of mine from Florida State - only two degrees of separation! I had a feeling he would know him based on the subject matter of military fiction. It was a great opportunity to hear our neighbor talk about his book. He’s planning on about six or seven in all. And his has a wonderful support system in his wife. 

Amazon Author Central

I wrote and illustrated three children's books - one about a tiny fish, a second about a separation, and a third about a trip to Washington DC. They are all true! Two of them were published by StoryChimes and are applications available through ITunes. All three were self published and are available on Amazon in hard copy and on Kindle. It's been a while since I checked the website. Amazon has expanded the options that can be added to tell more about yourself as an author. It's called Author Central. Yesterday I updated the website, added a photo, linked it to my twitter account, and wrote a few words in the bibliography. There is also an option to create a much neater truncated URL that takes you directly to the Amazon page that shows only your material. This link can then be added to your website, or blog, or email signature. Any time a change like that is made, there are many more that need to follow. It is amazing how all this things are connected. I'm just glad I like this kind of stuff and don't need to depend on the experts for help all the time. Luckily I don't require any of it to make a living. Then I think it could be quite daunting. 

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.

It's Blog Week

Just this week my blog was added to the DC Blogs website. So the entries are automatically added to the live feed. Also this week my blog reached 10,000 hits. Another milestone to celebrate. Then today, someone so kindly noted a blog entry made earlier in the week on the DC Blogs website about the empty hallways of August. I've been lucky to have two other entries noted. It makes such a huge difference in hits for the day- which was the way I found out about the website to begin with. So you could say this is a blog week. I can't wait for my blog to get it's assigned logo so that it really looks official. I'm not sure I would have started something like this while living in Milwaukee. But I'm not so sure they existed like they do now, but the subject matter and general focus would have been hard to identify- except maybe a weather report.

DC Blogs & 10,000 Hits

Thank you DC Blogs for listing my blog on the DC Blogs live feed website. Did I mention the word blog? I noticed a couple months back that someone suggested my mini cooper entry be noted on the site. My hit count skyrocketed because it was listed. A second entry about visiting the Midwest also made it to the news on the site. So I checked out the website myself and requested LIT's Living on Capitol Hill-Hell be added. And it all came at a great time. My blog count just hit 10,000- a milestone in and of itself. I really enjoy making observations, taking photos, and sketching. Who would have thought those high school newspaper editing days might turn in to something? Now I'm doing what I really enjoy, but still have a real job on the side.

Dr. Mahdi Aminrazavi and Omar Khayyam

Today was one of those days that my husband joined my friend and colleague for a lecture at the African Middle Eastern Division in the Jefferson Building. And for once, I really liked and enjoyed it. We sat in the front row, heard every word, and the subject matter was even interesting - for me. Usually I don't always connect with the subject, but this presentation was well done. The speaker is from Mashad, one of the many cities we visited in Iran a couple years ago. What I like most about this type of event is that it gives us an opportunity to enjoy the perks of working at the Library of Congress. After the questions and answers ended, we walked back through the tunnels that connect the Jefferson Building to the Madison Building and have lunch on the sixth floor. The view from there overlooks our neighborhood and you can see our house. What I miss on these days is the walk home, and lunch at home, and a quick cat nap. But every once in awhile, this is a treat. And something like this never happened in any of my previous work places.

DC Blogs

Thanks to someone who submitted my blog entry to DC Blogs while I was
away! I've submitted my blog LIT's Living On Capitol Hill-Hell to DC
Blogs be added to their website. Keep your fingers crossed. This is
the second time someone noticed an item of interest. The last blog was
about mini coopers. I think the latest one about returning to the
Midwest may have knocked James Drury off the highest hit entry. Thanks
to all the readers out there. Being mentioned generates a lot of
traffic.

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

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

Financial Field Manual

Someone in our family is a writer. She is very good at her craft, and makes a really good living at it. Last week, the second edition of the Military Family Benefits brochure came out. It is sponsored by the Better Business Bureau and Kiplinger's. It will be circulated to 800,000 military families world wide, and is also available on line. I remember her talking about it in December when the deadline was near- but also that this time, a family photo would be included. In this issue, there is a chapter about the GI Bill, and how it has been updated. But more importantly, how this benefit has affected their family personally. In fact, each chapter reflects a personal story. We are really proud of her and all the work she does. She has written a few books on personal finance, has interviewed a lot of interesting people, and has and continues to be a guest on many television and radio spots. She also has written for the Washington Post. She is a very talented young lady and a big part of our family. Congratulations to Kim for this last extraordinary effort. Most people appreciate this kind of information wherever they live. And if you have a personal finance question, just go on line and "Ask Kim."

Available in hard copy and on line-
I got my copy yesterday from the author

The forward

Here are the folks very near and dear to our  hearts -
and one of the reasons we moved to DC

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.

National Book Festival

The posters have been circulating around the Library over the last several months, and the marketing campaign has been in full swing over the last 10 years. The National Book Festival started with Laura Bush, and has continued every year since. The Building Services group and a host of other folks are setting up all the equipment and tents today, as the event starts tomorrow on the National Mall. We have attended regularly since we moved here. I got some autographs from a few authors- I always liked David McCullough. Now I have even more interest in books, particularly children's books, and digital books at that. I got some good news today that something is about to happen (stay tuned!) The weather has never cooperated for the event, which is now a 2 day affair. It is either really, really hot or raining cats and dogs. As a Library employee, we have an opportunity to volunteer. And many of us take advantage of that. Tonight there is a big celebration dinner in the Jefferson Building for the authors and the sponsors, along with a lot of notable characters. Obviously that affair is by invitation only, so we never get to go. But every once in awhile we run into some of the folks wandering in the hallways, and that's what makes living here an interesting event just about every day.

A whimsical poster on display every year

Just to name a few- something for everyone