Time sped by the last couple of weeks, and today I realized I had not posted for a while.  It has been a busy time, with lots of activity on the book, as I move out of my writing mode into the promotion and publicity arena.  Instead of plot lines, character development and rewrites, I am now working on news releases, book reviews and interviews.  Lots to learn and lots to do.  I now understand what everyone meant when they said writing the book was the easy part!  It helps when I remember this activity is a continuation of the creative process.

FolkHeart Press in San Francisco posted one of my poems with a companion piece of artwork.  Thanks, Karen.

And I did manage to get an article written for the Foundation about the ongoing rhetoric over the signing of the Convention on the Rights of Children.

Will keep you posted on the virtual book tour and radio interviews we are doing in June.

The National Boys & Girls Conference in New York was a wonderful experience.  One of the aspects I enjoyed the most was hearing the various Club alumni speak, many of whom attained incredible personal and professional success in life, and who attribute much of that to their early experiences at one of the Clubs.

One of the opening sessions featured three men from New Jersey, each who spoke passionately about how they had made a pact in high school that they were going to get out of the projects, get off of the mean streets and become doctors.  That is exactly what happened.  They have maintained their friendship for over 25 years, and they have joined together to establish a foundation to inspire and encourage youth (much like them at that age) to finish high school and get a college education – for they believe that is the ticket out of poverty and disadvantage.

The current campaign of the Boys & Girls Club of America is BE GREAT.   What a wonderful message for our children, and for all of us adults.

And while I am speaking about being great, I also had the opportunity during my free time to catch some New York plays.   What a treat to see Denzel Washington in Fences, Christopher Walken in A Behanding in Spokane and Sherie Rene Scott in Everyday Rapture.  Watching these incredible individuals perform inspires me to bring my best game to my work.

Now more than anytime I can remember, the world is very much in need of GREATNESS from all of us.

Greetings!  I am in New York at the Boys & Girls Club National Convention as a recent inductee into the Jeremiah Milbank Society.  This organization is one of my favorite child advocacy groups – as they provide a positive and safe place for kids!

I look forward to hearing about their plans for the coming year, and what all of us can do to make the world better for the children.  I will keep you posted.

I have been getting some wonderful feedback on my book, as it starts its journey to help people heal.  I want to share one that came in yesterday.  Thank you, Dr. Carey.

A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS EVER A CHILD!!!  May 8, 2010 By  Patricia E. Carey “Patti” (Dallas, TX) This review is from: Little Madhouse on the Prairie: A True-Life Story of Overcoming Abuse and Healing the Spirit (Paperback) It is my true wish that EVERYONE read this book, and recognize the power of acknowledgement and forgiveness – not that we have to forget or condone actions of our families – but recognizing we have a choice to take responsibility for our present life. Marion’s book is a MUST READ, as a way to understand how families’ behaviors overtly and subtlely affect chidlren for the rest of their lives, and how the power of facing the lions and tigers and bears OH MY, can bring us to a place of acceptance, self-love, and peace. I doubt there is anyone who doesn’t recall some element of unfortunate event in their childhood, and yet there are so many of us who have experienced the physical and psychological abuse dealt by troubled yet well meaning parents, and those memories stay with us and impact us every day. Marion’s book is a wonderfully touching revelation of her experiences growing up in a dysfunctional family. It is amazing that she was able to grow into the kind, thoughtful, and loving woman she is now. Reading her book brought to the surface many of my own unfortunate events in earlier years. While painful to look at, it is quite cathartic to face those events now, recognize their impact, and choose to forgive and move on with life. Marion’s book is well written, easy to read, will bring tears to your eyes, and a smile to your face! What a fabulous talent Marion has to be able to touch readers in such a way. Please read Little Madhouse On the Prairie…TODAY!