I hope your week is going well; here we find ourselves halfway through both the week and the month. Time is flying and the Toronto Santa Claus parade is gearing up for this Sunday. Hard to believe – and what great memories I have of being able to take part and represent the only radio station in the parade year after year! Of course, the shouts of “Hi Marilyn!” from some in the crowd were always really great at keeping my ego in check. You have to laugh. I did and still do!
 
Having left Ottawa already, the majority of our Christmas shopping is done! Presents for family on the BC mainland were delivered last month when I “rendezvous-ed” with my sister (Is that a word? I’ll make “rendezvoused” a word then) so that’s pretty much it. Hard to believe. But most normal people – and I’m going to assume you’re among them – may have yet to start.
 
So let me offer a little help, as well as some inspiration, if you’re one of those people who think they’ve got a book in them and are wondering just what it takes to get it out there!
 
Nancy, one of my long-time CHFI listeners and a new friend on the Island, felt like so many of us when she left her career and moved to Vancouver Island: what next? Her work in communications and public relations involved lots of writing, but in a business style, often on dry topics (just the facts, ma’am).
 
She loves to write, but wanted to “rewire her brain” to write more creatively and more imaginatively. I hate to take credit for it, but she will tell you that I was her inspiration to being published in what used to be the Facts and Arguments page in the Globe and Mail. (I will take both credit and blame for that, thanks!) 
 
With five books written for children (but sitting on the shelf waiting for her to pitch them to publishing houses), an interesting opportunity came her way recently. Through the woman who started a community outreach in South Africa, Nancy was introduced to Asanda, a 16-year-old boy who loved to draw. He took one of Nancy’s stories and created the basic characters. His work was refined and finished in Victoria by a young welder with a passion for graphic arts and, voilà, The Magical Power of Color was recently published.
 

 
Through Nancy’s words and the animated illustrations, young children get an early sense of how different colours can affect how they feel. We all have our favourite colours and think of how often we use colour in describing feelings: “I feel blue,” “I’m green with envy,” and so it goes. 
 
I can vouch for being able to ham it up when I read it to Coco, because it is a rhyming book. Nancy said that even though rhyming books are not as popular now, they are still much easier for adults to read to kids. My niece Regan loved the one we gave her for her birthday earlier this month, too, and it’s always special if you can get it inscribed by the author. Auntie has connections LOL!
 
You can also order a signed copy from Nancy using the link on the website or you can order via Amazon. Part of the proceeds from book sales will go back to the children who are part of Ukulapha. And as you can see, the feedback on the book has been really terrific.
 
A good book – a good cause – how do you do better than that? 
 
Have a gentle Wednesday and I’ll be back with you here tomorrow.