God's way of saying, "Everything is going to be OK."

The Color of Dirt - Whistler's Mother #QuarantineBoredomBusters

Do you think Whistler's Mother ever grew tired of her son's artistry projects?  Maybe he left his brushes and palette knife out all the time.  Maybe the house smelled of linseed oil.  Or maybe he managed to get a little Payne's Gray paint on her dining table.  Who knows, but she wasn't exactly the epitome of joy; at least not in the painting for which she (and her son) are famous.  

As history's fuzzy memory would have it, Anna Whistler was not James McNeill Whistler's intended subject that fated day in 1871 when he began work on Arrangement in Gray and Black No.1 (later dubbed Whistler's Mother).  Whistler had intended to paint a model who, as it turns out, was unable to make the appointment.  He had also planned to paint his subject in a standing position.  Only his poor momma was unable to stand for the entire sitting.  Thus, the little foot-stool and relaxed positioning as Whistler seemingly did his best to keep his mother comfortable for the duration of the sitting.  Even still, based on her appearance, she may have grown tired of being there for so long.  Or maybe she was just itching to get back to her responsibilities.  Perhaps she was checking off a mental list of things to do... 1) Buy more oil for her reading lamps.  2) Mend her sweet boy's socks. 3) Scrub Payne's Gray paint off the dining room table.

If any of the above ponderings hold a shred of truth I can relate to Momma Whistler.  It seems like a never-ending chore just trying to keep the groceries stocked and stay on top of the day-to-day chores.  And don't even get me started on the subject of keeping a clean home.  I live in the country, so my daily tasks include dirt removal.  Some days it seems as though I could literally plant a garden in my entryway.  And no, I don't have a mud-room.  This city-girl transplant didn't understand the need for a mud-room back when we first built our house.  I now see the error of my ways.  But that's a story for a different day.

When we first built our house, we had the sweetest front porch, all in white, to match the white shutters on our gray house.  It took one summer for me to realize that white was a poor choice, as it showed all the mud my dear hubby tracked up to the house. We live on a hobby farm, which loosely translated means my hubby loves to roll in the dirt... What? No? That's not what he does?  Well he sure has me fooled some times.  Regardless, when summer No.2 rolled around I quickly repainted our porch in a lovely shade of mud.  O.K., truth be told, not so lovely, and definitely not my favorite, but seemingly more practical.  But then I soon realized that mud dries.  So the color I should have been shooting for was not mud, but more a lovely shade of dried dirt. Please don't judge, surely I could just hose down the porch twenty times a day... O.K., so the color of dried dirt it is.

So back to the photo above.  This mother's day my hubby asked what I wanted to do to celebrate.  I told him I wanted to do another #QuarantineBoredomBuster.  Thus, the inspiration for the above photo.  We took the liberty of adding our own special image in the painting on the wall.  Maybe you'll recognize it from another one of our painting reenactments.  

I think we can learn a lot from Momma Whistler. 1) Sometimes we just need to stop what we're in the middle of for our kids' sake.  Who knows, something magnificent may come of it.  2) It's O.K. to let people see us as we really... tired, slouchy and a little distracted... because that's just life.  3) Sometimes the Payne's Gray doesn't wash off, and that's O.K. too, because that's the stuff memories are made of in the midst of that thing we call living.  

We Can Do It!

With COVID19 consuming our world these days it sometimes seems as though this situation may never end.  I have no bright, shiny, platitudes for that. The subject has become so tiresome that I really don't know what to say other than we can do it!  We've got this people.  Yes, it's getting old.  And yes, we all want our lives to get back to normal.  And, as I've said before, there are some lovely silver linings in all of this.  But that doesn't change the fact that we are growing tired of all things COVID.  

In the whole scheme of things, we have it pretty good.  Things could be worse (and I'm ever thankful they're not).  Regardless, I hope to continue to maintain a positive attitude.  I am determined to keep finding ways to make the best of an unfortunate situation.  And as I think about this poster (not mine... the original one intended to bolster the spirits of those who were enduring the hardships of their time) I think about the resiliency of humankind. 

We can learn a lot from Rosie the Riveter.  She was a cultural icon of the World War II era.  Not only did she represent strength and resilience, but she also represented an idea; the idea that, while things had changed, our country could, and would bounce back.  And with ingenuity and determination, we will too.  And someday as we look back on this period of time I hope we will remember the good along with the not-so-good.  And above all, I pray we can learn from this and find new ways to do better for us and future generations.  

All I can say is my family must really love me...

 

Mother's Day 2020 has come and gone.  While moms all over the great state of South Dakota rejoiced over being able to go out to eat this weekend following weeks of  COVID19 isolation, I somehow talked may family into staying in.  We enjoyed sushi take-out, played Quarantine Olympics (the day started out with me in the lead... apparently my family doesn't love me so much because I'm now in 2nd place), and we created some more #QuarantineBoredomBuster reenactment photos.  This one is by far my new favorite!  I can't get over how fun it has been working on these photos together as a family.   It goes without saying, my husband and daughter are pretty good sports about all this.  So while I sincerely appreciate the new bath buddy that will hold my wine glass as I'm soaking in the tub, and I will love using my new Nest Hub, this photo and the memories attached to it, are what I most loved about Mother's Day 2020.  I know I'm partial, but I think my cherubs are so much sweeter than Raphael's!

 

IS IT OVER YET? Quarantine Do-Overs. There's no place like home.

Last night was the first time since before St. Patty's Day that I had the opportunity to go out to eat with a friend.  She and I were at an outdoor patio where we were seated at an enormous table for just the two of us.  It was fun to also see some familiar faces, other friends and acquaintances we hadn't seen in ages (albeit from a distance).  With the restaurant only seating every other table it seemed as though we were miles away from the other patrons who were also dining there.  My natural instinct to go in for a hug was squelched by a reminder that we were still social-distancing, only with less distance.  Regardless, it felt great to reconnect face-to-face with my friend and share some much-needed girl time.  

I realize a large portion of the country is still in quarantine.  And not to rub salt in an open wound, but our state never really went into full lock-down mode to begin with.  So I do feel a bit guilty even thinking this, let alone verbalizing it here.  But I honestly felt like quarantine had its benefits from a very personal point-of-view.  Dare I say I actually enjoyed our family lock-down?  When I first heard that restaurants would be opening up again this week I felt a tinge of sadness.  Even as I did I realized how incredibly absurd that was, but hear me out.

Our 18-year-old daughter will be leaving for her first year of college in the fall (God and the CDC willing) and I'm already experiencing pre-separation-anxiety over that; so that may have something to do with my nostalgic outlook on our somewhat forced time together.  But I truly feel that our period of isolation was a beautiful thing. During quarantine, my family created some really wonderful memories.  We started Quarantine Olympics (where we kept a running total of winners at various games we played during our time of lock-down), and Quarantine Boredom Busters (where we photographed reenactments of famous paintings).  We spent more time doing Movie Club (Zoom meetings where we discuss select movies together.  -Something we had already been doing with our older kids who live far away, but during quarantine we made Movie Club a priority and met more frequently).  And with all that self-isolation, we were truly bonding.  I'm not going to lie... I'm going to miss that.

Knowing things would be slowly going back to normal, I was struck with the realization that some of those family experiences would also be going away.  With a return to normalcy, the inevitable will occur.  We will be getting back to business, and subsequently getting back to being buried under heaps of busy-ness.  So this morning when my husband asked what I want to do tomorrow for Mother's Day I think he was pretty shocked by my response, "Quarantine Do-Overs."  

Tomorrow while many moms (at least in our city) will be celebrating by going out to eat for the first time in several weeks, my family and I will be in lock-down mode.  I'm looking forward to trying to best my daughter and regain my spot in 1st place for Quarantine Olympics (because we never really did establish an end-date, so there may be hope for me yet!).  I hope to knock out a few more Boredom Buster reenactment photos.  And most importantly, I plan to just enjoy relaxing with my family... at home.  Because there's no place like home when you're there with the ones you love.  

More Quarantine Boredom Busters, Famous Painting Reenactments

This time our family decided to go gothic... American Gothic, by Grant Wood that is.

There seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel.  Quarantine and isolation seem to be coming to a close in many parts of the country; and with that comes a return to the freedoms we all knew and loved back before this all started.  I'm not going to lie though.  I've sort of enjoyed this extra time with my family.  The silver lining in all of this for me was being able to spend some concentrated time with our youngest daughter who will be going off to college next fall (knock on wood... see how I did that... Grant Wood?  --OK, fine, we can't all be funny all of the time).

Our #QuarantineBoredomBusters have been a creative way to come together as a family and make something special and memorable out of this whole situation.  I don't know how many more of these we will do, but I hope to keep this fun family tradition going for a while longer anyway.

Quarantine Reflections... How I Vow to Do Better Next Time

I was at the grocery store the other day... 

Wearing my headwrap which doubled as a face mask, I wove through the aisles, loading up on anything I might want... ever... in the history of ever.  Because (as I told myself every time I went to the store since COVID19) this was going to be the last time I shopped for groceries again in a while.

Among other items in my shopping cart, I had a small bag of key-limes.  What a lovely and versatile fruit the key lime is.  I could make a pie, whip up a zesty marinade, or even use the peel for a twist the next time I wanted a refreshing drink.

As I approached the cashier, minding my six-foot distancing, I loaded all my treasured goods on the conveyer.  After the person ahead of me checked out I moved forward to my designated spot, well behind the clear poly barrier that would shield my masked-face from the masked-face of my cashier.  He was a young boy, perhaps in his very early 20s.  I gave him an exaggerated smile since I wondered if he could actually discern that I was smiling behind my absurd mask.  I think he smiled back, but I couldn't be sure.

He asked me a question... "Hzerhe ghoer, ghoews vd"

"What's that?" I asked.

"Hzerhe ghoer, ghoews vd," I gave him a puzzled look before he removed his mask with blue-gloved hands.  "Did you find everything you need?"

"Yes, thank you," I replied, trying my best to express gratitude that he was willing to show up to work during this time of crisis.  My silly half-hidden smile could hardly have conveyed that message.  I didn't want to come across as a crazy mom who feels the need to always encourage young people in any way I can, but truth-be-damned I am that crazy mom.

He scanned all my items, even the glorious unicorn that was a 12-pack of Cottonelle toilet paper.  Then he got to the bag of key-limes.  They wouldn't scan.  He tried repeatedly to key them in before looking a bit frustrated.  The woman behind me was growing impatient. Clearly ignoring the six-foot spacing guidelines she leaned forward and started to complain. I thought I'd throw the boy a life-line.

"That's OK, I don't think I really need them anyway."

"You sure?" he asked, looking more than a little relieved.

"Yeah, I can live without them," that woman was making me uncomfortable.

He pushed the key limes aside, but there they were... right in my line of vision.  I kept thinking about those lovely limes and how I may live to regret passing on them later.  I watched him scan a number of other items before I back-pedaled.

"I'm so sorry," I said "but I think I might really want those after all.

"No worries he said," as he pushed the call button.  But no-one came to offer their assistance, and eventually, he reached the end of my shopping items.  That's about the time the lady behind me got really belligerent.

"He doesn't know what he's doing.  He can't even figure out how to ring up a bag of limes," she spat (possibly quite literally, as she was not wearing any sort of face-covering). 

I thought about sending the woman a cold stare but decided instead to offer up the biggest, most encouraging smile ever to the boy behind the register.  I would not stoop to her level.  Finally, a manager came to the rescue and attempted to scan my beloved limes.  The woman behind me made some very loud and rude comments just to make sure the manager realized how very incompetent she believed our cashier to be.  But then, as fate would have it, the manager also had trouble getting the limes to scan and she was unable to key them in either.  I breathed a small sigh of relief, somehow believing the obnoxious shopper would now realize it wasn't the boy's fault and back off.... I was wrong.  That woman continued to mock and jeer as the manager left to get a different bag of limes.

I couldn't take it any longer.  "Maybe you can finish this transaction and I can just take the limes to customer service when your manager gets back," I offered to the boy behind the register.

"If you don't mind, that might be a good idea," he said, looking to be equal parts embarrassed and relieved.

"Well at least someone's got a brain around here," the woman in line said.

Again, I refused to stoop to her level.  I thanked the boy and then stood at the nearby customer service counter as the manager brought me a new bag of limes.  She and I had a brief exchange as she rang me up.  Then as I was leaving with all my goods I passed the register where the boy had just finished ringing up the woman who had been behind me in line.  She loudly commented that at least someone was competent enough to do their job, and then grumbled about how she always seemed to pick the slowest lines.  I again smiled at the boy and thanked him for his help, offering a meek goodbye.

It wasn't until I was loading my groceries in my car that I was struck with a revelation.  That boy couldn't say a thing.  It was his job to treat every customer with respect, even if those very same customers did not extend the same courtesy.  The manager was in the same boat.  I and all the other customers in that line were truly the only people in a position to call that woman out.  And I let that boy down.  I let myself down that day too; I would like to believe I'm better than that.  I didn't need to start a brawl or wage some sort of war to do the right thing.  But when one person doesn't play nice, the gloves most certainly could (and in this case should) come off.

I regret now that I believed saying anything would put me on the same level as that woman.  I regret that my "revelation" came to me well after any opportunity to speak up had come and gone.  If I had it to do over again, I would have given that woman a piece of my mind.  And believe me, she had it coming.

So note to self... and perhaps (hopefully) a bit of inspiration to all those out there who may someday encounter a similar situation.  Bullies will continue to bully as long as no-one speaks up.  In retrospect, I realize my silence may have been perceived by her (no matter how misguided) as agreement.  I hope I never have to witness something like that again.  But if I do, I intend to do my part to rein in the negative talk by calling the bully(s) out.  It's too late to step in and make things right for the boy who was my cashier that day, but maybe in some small way, this post will remind me and inspire others to do things differently.

So there you have it.  A little pep-talk and hopefully a bit of inspiration for us all to do better next time.


Multi-Award-Winning Author & Illustrator DeeDee Fox
DeeDeeFox.com

More #QuarantineBoredomBusters Famous Painting Reenactments

It would seem there may be a light at the end of this quarantine tunnel. With some regions relaxing their restrictions, it would appear some of us may be getting out and about a bit more in the coming days and weeks.  Despite the confinement and the disruption in our normal lives, my family and I have enjoyed our extra time together.  We have been working to find ways to make the best of our situation.  As a result, we have been inspired to recreate a number of famous paintings.  Without further ado, here's another one of our favorites:

#QuarantineBoredomBusters Famous Painting Reenactments Continued

It is hard to believe we are still at this social distancing thing.  It's been what seems like an eternity... but thankfully there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel.  In the meantime, our family continues to while away the time with #QuarantineBoredomBusters (Painting Reenactments), and #QuarantineOlympics (I hate to brag, but I'm tied in 2nd place!).

And here for your entertainment pleasure, ladies and gents, is our latest painting reenactment:

Norman Rockwell's Election Day, as reenacted by my family

Quarantine Reflections, or, How COVID Led Me to Day-Drinking:

First and foremost I should mention I adore escargot. - Living in a small town, it's not often I have the opportunity to order it though. So one day a while back, when I saw a can of escargot on the shelves at the grocery store I decided to give it a try. I wondered if the canned version could be nearly as good as the variety I usually get at a restaurant (spoiler alert... and probably no surprise to anyone... it's NOT!). But dread and foreboding got the best of me and I just couldn't bring myself to give it a try. So there it had remained... in my kitchen cupboard... just waiting for me to give it a go. I should mention I had the same sort of dread the first time I made my own sushi, and the first time I consumed caviar from a jar (also purchased from a grocery aisle - remember, I live in a small town where you can't just order this stuff on the menu), both of which I came to love and prepare often.

So now, with COVID isolation, I set a personal goal to clear my freezer and shelves of all the random things I might otherwise have ignored. Thus my selection for today's lunch. Naturally, I decided it really wouldn't be the same to have escargot without a nice oaked chardonnay. So, that's what I prepared. And as I drained the juice from the can of escargot, then dumped the contents of the can into a baking dish, I remembered a conversation I'd had with my sister yesterday about the enormous snails that were wreaking havoc in her garden. I valiantly pushed all thoughts of garden slugs aside and determined to have an open mind about my garden slu... ahem... escargot lunch.

I poured my glass of wine (never mind the hour, or the fact that I was drinking alone) and started working up a delightful blend of butter and garlic. I cooked those babies up until the butter was nice and bubbly, then I sat down to what I hoped would be the first of many canned escargot episodes. I took a sip of wine, then I plopped one of those creepy looking critters in my mouth. Mush, followed by sandy grit, and I continued to maintain a positive attitude. I contemplated spitting it out right away, but I told myself it could be all in my head. So I continued to chew and then swallow that slug.

And that, my friends, is why I have one less can in my cupboards... and why I'm now enjoying chicken enchilada leftovers and chardonnay for lunch!

Now working on my newest illustrations!

Introverted workaholic author/illustrators like myself who already worked from home are going to end up inadvertently giving all the credit for any recent accomplishments to COVID19.  That hardly seems fair

Illustrations completed for my newest children's picture book!

One of the most exciting things about being an author and illustrator is that I am able to fully realize my vision from beginning to end, including the visuals that will bring my book to life.  I've just wrapped up the illustrations for one of my favorite new projects.  This book is the first in a series of children's picture books.  Be watching for details on this project as this series continues. 

Gale Force Winds of Change

It's been some time since I've had a chance to really focus on my writing.  For years now I've dedicated my time and effort to supporting other authors to help elevate them and gain greater exposure for them and their books.  Quite a while ago I was asked to sign two of my (then) new books for representation with an agent.  I was thrilled at the opportunity, but I of all people know that writing the book is only a small part of the game when it comes to publishing.  And because I did not have time to properly devote to my new books I declined the offer to sign with this particular agent and chose to let my manuscripts simmer on the back burner.

In the meantime, through an opportunity I had while working on a literary event, I made the acquaintance of a literary agent who I have come to have a great deal of respect for both personally and professionally.  And because I have recently chosen to pare down some of my professional responsibilities in order to make more time for my writing, I find myself at a wonderful new crossroads.  I am pleased to share with you, my dear friends, that I am ready to move two of my favorite projects back on the front burner.  Having recently shuffled some of my responsibilities, I find myself with the time needed to truly devote to my literary babies.

So back to what I was saying earlier . . . I've found an agent.  In full disclosure, she's an incredibly talented agent to many talented authors, but so far, she does not represent yours-truly.  Truth be told, she does not yet even know she's my intended agent.  It may be a bit brazen for me to make this announcement, but I believe in the power of positive thinking and I feel confident that she may be willing to represent my two most recent manuscripts.

Fingers crossed . . . I sincerely hope this is a prophetic announcement regarding my newest literary treasures.  Stay tuned.  If all goes well, I look forward to announcing some exciting new details on the horizon.

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

It's been a while since I've posted anything here.  Life, business, and family have all crept in . . . keeping me from one of my great loves, writing.  With the advent of the new year comes new opportunities for growth and development in my literary life.  I've sent off two new books, one a children's chapter book, and the other a children's picture book, for consideration to be published.  Keeping my fingers crossed that someone will be as thrilled in reading them as I was in writing them.

So now the hard part begins.

Waiting, waiting, waiting

The Ruby Red Slippers - Now in Beijing

Exciting News!

I just received the following message from my publisher.

Congratulations!

It gives us immense pleasure to report that two hundred of our titles were approved by the Chinese Government for import and were selected by the Taiwan bookstore in Beijing to be placed on their shelves and sold to local readers. Your book is included in this select group of titles.  Now we have one of the largest English book display sections in the entire store. In the U.S. especially, book sales are dominated by online retailers like Amazon, and we have seen the demise of many popular bookstore chains over the last few years. It is inspiring to see that in China the tangible still holds strong, and it is the physical “books on a shelf” that serve as the dominant sales point in the book markets.

The books are sitting on a bookstore shelf in Beijing being viewed by millions of people, which is something you should be extremely proud of.

Ruby Red Slippers - Top Selling Book!

The Ruby Red Slippers has been recognized as one of the top selling books last year by Eloquent Books and Strategic Book Publishers.  Imagine my delight and my surprise when I learned that The Ruby Red Slippers has sold more books in its category than any other!  How exciting. 

OVER 1,000 COPIES SOLD!!

April 2011 sales reports for The Ruby Red Slippers shows our book as having reached a milestone.

OVER 1,000 COPIES SOLD!!!

With 1,006 copies sold in under eight months we are, to say the least, thrilled!

Be watching for more great news on DeeDee Fox's new title release, to be announced.

The Ruby Red Slippers, tippety tapping its way around the world, one book fair at a time...

Our publisher has just returned from the Abu Dhabi book fair, where the Ruby Red Slippers was very well received.  More information to follow on the success of these shows.  Meanwhile, here's a copy of the sell sheet used to promote The Ruby Red Slippers in Abu Dhabi.

Press Release - Ruby Red Slippers wins 1st place in highly competitive Early Reader category

Strategic Book Group Authors Win Top Honors in 2010 ‘Reader Views Literary Awards’

March 3, 2011 – Strategic Book Group congratulates authors Dee Dee Fox, Mike Saxton and Larry Seeley, all of whom were award winners in the just announced ‘Reader Views Literary Awards’.

Winning First Place in the highly competitive Early Reader category was The Ruby Red Slippers, by Dee Dee Fox. In this charming children’s book about a magical pair of shoes, a young girl learns the joy of giving and, in the end, of receiving. (ISBN: 978-1-60976-006-9 www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TheRubyRedSlippers.html)
Mike Saxton’s 7 Scorpions: Rebellion was awarded Honorable Mention in the Science Fiction category. In Saxton’s exciting first book of a trilogy, Earth is turned upside down by the brutal attack of a dictator known as Zodiac. The series introduces Vincent Black, an unlikely hero who must fight Zodiac and succeed over nearly insurmountable odds to save the planet. (ISBN: 978-1-160911-286-8 www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/ 7Scorpions-Rebellion.html )
Also receiving an Honorable Mention Award was Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves, this in the Mystery/Thriller category. Author Larry Seeley used his personal experience in the high-stakes arenas of business and gaming to create this suspense-filled tale of murder, revenge and redemption. (ISBN: 978-1-60976-099-1 www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/GypsiesTrampsAndThieves.html )
Initial judging was done by Reader Views reviewers. The final winners were chosen by a panel of judges; for more information visit www.readerviews.com/Awards2010Winners.html
Strategic Book Group , LLC

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ABOUT: Strategic Book Group provides book publishing, book marketing, and ebook services to over 10,000 writers around the world, employing 150 people who live throughout the US and work virtually through telecommunication. Strategic Book Group is experiencing over 30% growth per year, having published approximately 3000 authors with almost 100 new releases per month. Our books are available through Ingram, the largest book distributor in the world, as well as in bookstores, through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and all online channels. Strategic Book Group attends and exhibits at the major book expositions in London, New York, China, and Germany each year.



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The Ruby Red Slippers Takes 1st Place in Reader Views Awards!

The Ruby Red Slippers, a children’s book written and illustrated by DeeDee Fox, has been selected as a first place winner in the 2010 Reader Views Literary Awards Competition.
The annual Reader Views literary awards were established to honor writers who have had their books published by a subsidy publisher, small press, university press, or independent book publisher geared for the North American reading audience. All judging is done by reviewers from Reader Views. They are experts in their fields as well as avid readers. Finalists in each category were determined by a point system and final judging was determined by a jury of judges.

The Ruby Red Slippers is the story of a young girl who receives a new pair of shoes from her grandmother which she believes possesses magical powers. When she grows out of her ruby red slippers, she realizes the magic of her shoes comes not from possessing them, but from wearing them. Mia ultimately gives her beloved shoes to a friend, and when she does, something truly magical happens!
Ms. Fox, an Arizona native and long time resident of Rapid City, South Dakota, is a freelance writer and national public speaker who has worked in the publishing industry for over fifteen years. Having first begun her writing career as Assistant Editor for a regional publication in Phoenix, Arizona, she went on to personally start three successful magazines from the ground up. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the International Women's Writing Guild and the International Writing Center's Association.

To see a complete list of the 2010 Reader Views Literary Awards Recipients, visit http://www.readerviews.com/Awards2010Finalists.html

For more information about The Ruby Red Slippers, visit www.rubyredslippers.org

The Ruby Red Slippers presented at the international book fair in Taiwan

The Ruby Red Slippers, written and illustrated by DeeDee Fox, was recently featured at the Taiwan Book Fair.  - The Ruby Red Slippers, an award winning children's book, has previously been shown at the Frankfurt Book Show in Frankfurt, Germany, and also at the international book fair in Beijing, China.  Next stop, Cologne, Italy, where the Ruby Red Slippers will soon be shown at the world's largest children's book fair. 

Attached below is a copy of the sell sheet used at the Taiwan Book Fair.

The Ruby Red Slippers honored in the 2010 ‘Readers View Awards’

Three Strategic Book Group Authors Finalists in 2010 ‘Readers View Awards’


February 14, 2011 – Strategic Book Group is proud to congratulate authors Dee Dee Fox, Mike Saxton and Larry Seeley, all of whom are finalists in the ‘Readers View Literary Awards’.

The Ruby Red Slippers, by Dee Dee Fox, placed in the highly competitive Early Reader category. In this charming children’s book about a magical pair of shoes, a young girl learns the joy of giving and, in the end, of receiving. (ISBN: 978-1-60976-006-9 www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TheRubyRedSlippers.html)
Mike Saxton’s 7 Scorpions: Rebellion is one of three finalists in the Science Fiction category. In Saxton’s exciting first book of a trilogy, Earth is turned upside down by the brutal attack of a dictator known as Zodiac. The series introduces Vincent Black, an unlikely hero who must fight Zodiac and succeed over nearly insurmountable odds to save the planet. (ISBN: 978-1-160911-286-8 www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/ 7Scorpions-Rebellion.html )
Mystery/Thriller finalist Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves is written by author Larry Seeley, who used his personal experience in the high-stakes arenas of business and gaming to create this suspense-filled tale of murder, revenge and redemption. (ISBN: 978-1-60976-099-1 www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/GypsiesTrampsAndThieves.html )

Initial judging was done by Reader Views reviewers. The final winners will be determined by a jury of judges; winners will be announced in March, 2011. More information at http://www.readerviews.com/Awards2010Finalists.html

The Ruby Red Slippers selected as a finalist in the 2010 Reader Views Literary Awards Competition!

The Ruby Red Slippers has been selected as a finalist in the
2010 Reader Views Literary Awards Competition!
Final results will be announced March 3, 2011


http://www.readerviews.com/Awards2010Finalists.html
 
The Ruby Red Slippers
Written and Illustrated by
DeeDee Fox
http://www.rubyredslippers.org/

The Ruby Red Slippers chosen to be represented at international book fairs.

The Ruby Red Slippers, a children's book written and illustrated by DeeDee Fox, has been chosen by Strategic publishing to be represented at two upcoming book fairs.  One in Abu Dhabi, and the second in Bologna.  

Strategic Publishing group is only featuring the physical books of those authors they feel truly represent the company's best work. Author, DeeDee Fox is thrilled to be included in this select group of books and looks forward to the opportunity to promoteThe Ruby Red Slippers at these and other world renowned international shows.

The Ruby Red Slippers
by DeeDee Fox
http://www.rubyredslippers.org/

Sneak Preview of The Ruby Red Slippers, now with "Inside the Book" on Amazon.com

Now when you pull up The Ruby Red Slippers, by DeeDee Fox, on Amazon.com, you can view a preview of the book through their "Inside the Book" feature.  Follow the link below to view The Ruby Red Slippers:
http://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Red-Slippers-Dee-Fox/dp/1609760069#_

And, if you are a fan of The Ruby Red Slippers, don't forget to leave a positive review.
Thanks!


The Ruby Red Slippers
by DeeDee Fox
www.rubyredslippers.org