Expansion into Quebec

As a Christmas gift, I gave my French mother-in-law, who lives in Quebec, my book. Even though English is her Second Language, she took the time to read "A Winter Solstice Celebration". When she came to visit us this week, she told us, that she laughed at the funny antics of the animals and she smiled to see how Miya helped the animals. She really enjoyed the story.

Now my book is doing the rounds through the rest of the Quebec part of my family, young and old.
This of course has set the stage to go forward to translate into french for all of the Quebecois to enjoy "A Winter Solstice Celebration"

Fans on the subway

Well, today I took the subway. As always, I'm very aware of the children, so that I can promote and share my book with as many as possible. I have an "avtivity flyer" for the children that has crossword puzzles and other word games on it. The children like it because it is fun. The parents like it, because it is educational.

I gave the two girls my flyer and they immediately started to solve the crossword puzzle. While at Christie station a little boy and his dad entered the train. I gave him a flyer as well. He sat near the two little girls and they started talking to him. They put their heads together and were working together to solve the puzzles. When the train arrived at the Yonge/Bloor, I waved good-bye, but the children were too busy and hardly waved good-bye. I was very honoured that they were too busy with my flyer.

new web-site

Hi

I'm excited to tell you that I am developing a new web-site for the www.didisbooks.com
I'm just learning at the moment so please check out my web-site on a regular basis. It will be posted at one point.
Talk to you soon,
DiDi

Happy New Year- May all your dreams and wishes come true!

Hello Everyone!
Happy New Year!

I hope you have a great year.

Remember: 2009 will be fine!

For 2009 I have been working on a Marketing strategy for my book
"A Winter Solstice Celebration"

Staying focused and planning one or two main activities and go after them is the best way to get things done.

My two are:

1)
Getting approved by the TDSB so that I can promote my book and the values the children learn at the schools in Toronto.

2)
Get a list of all the independent book stores in the GTA area and then expand to southern Ontario to get them to carry -sell- my book.

I hope there that I'll be successful with them.


I wish everyone a very prosperous and happy year.
May all your dreams and wishes come true.

Meeting the cousin of the angry squirrel

Yesterday, I had a book reading at the YMCA in down town Toronto. Being in a hurry, I took a short cut through the lane-way. I met a squirrel, who came right up to me and tapped the toe of my left boot.
He told me he was happy that I was talking to the children about the environment.
After that, he ran off and swished his bushy tail.

Signing my book on the subway!

Last week, I handed out a few flyers to promote my book. I had given my flyer to a mother with her daughter. She read the flyer and then asked me where she could buy the book. I told her on my web-site, but I could show her what the book looks like. ( I had a few copies with me) When she saw my book, she was very excited about it and wanted to buy it right away.After she bough it, she asked if I could sign the book for her daughter.
So, here I was, signing my book on a Toronto subway train going east.

My Press Release

A Winter Solstice Celebration

New Children’s Story Shows Environmental Impact Through Animal’s Eyes

TORONTO – Just in time for winter, children’s author DiDi LeMay pens a colorful tale that unites families in the spirit of the coming holidays while touching on important environmental themes. A Winter Solstice Celebration (published by AuthorHouse) takes young readers deep into the forest, where they discover how seemingly harmless human activities can wreak havoc on the natural world.

Set in a village on the edge of a forest, the time and place are left to the reader’s imagination. Miya, a young village girl, sets out one wintry day to feed the forest animals. This sensitive child has always been concerned about her wild neighbors. Every winter she makes it a habit to ensure they have food. On this particular day, Miya is in for a big surprise.

Deep in the woods, Miya encounters a talking squirrel who demands she leave the forest. As soon as she gets over the shock of talking to a squirrel, Miya ponders why she is so unwelcome in this place she loves. Trying to find her way home, she becomes lost and stumbles upon an animal meeting led by a haughty owl. Here, she discovers why humans are so disliked and mistrusted among the creatures of the forest. Encouraged by a kindly crow, she becomes determined to change the way humans and animals get along.

As the story unfolds, Miya must find a way to make peace between the village community and the forest dwellers. The upcoming solstice is the perfect opportunity to take a stand. A Winter Solstice Celebration follows Miya’s adventures as she returns to the forest with a bold idea to start a new winter solstice tradition among the villagers—one that doesn’t involve so much destruction to the forest.

“A Winter Solstice Celebration has a universal appeal as it gives insight into the potentially devastating impact of humans on the environment through the eyes of the animals,” says DiDi. “Young readers will be so captivated by Miya’s adventures, they will not realize they are learning multiple lessons: respect for the environment and for each other, the importance of standing up for your beliefs and the need to conquer your fears.”

Beautifully illustrated by Jacquie Campbell, A Winter Solstice Celebration invites children to cheer on a brave young heroine as she learns a valuable lesson from her new forest friends.

More information is available at www.didisbooks.com

AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit www.authorhouse.com.

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