I was invited to be the keynote speaker at an educators' conference that's being held this week. I've been asked to share my personal story and to discuss the details surrounding my illustrated children's book (Maddie: Teaching Tolerance with a Smile) that was published last year.
Being asked to address an audience is always a welcomed event and obviously helps to promote awareness of one's pursuits. Whenever I've spoken in public I've always tried to reach each participant in a personal way through an overall message of common inclusion.
It's a privilege to be asked to address a professional group. Doing so also causes (and should always cause) one to pause and reflect. Recognizing advancing personal achievement is best done by never forgetting how many good people helped one to be successful.
I'm grateful to family members, hardcore friends, positive colleagues and so many others who have helped me along the way in life. That message is also one that I will be including in my address this week.
I'll provide details about my presentation in a future post.
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My illustrated children's book: Maddie: Teaching Tolerance with a Smile officially became a Top 10 Amazon best-seller as of January 29, 2014. The print and ebook editions were initially released in August, 2013.
This amazing real-life story remains within Amazon's Top 100 rankings this month (April, 2014). The book previously appeared within Amazon's Top 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10 illustrated children's books during the past four months.
I couldn't be more pleased at the worldwide response to this story. Every connection helps to raise awareness about an important children's cause.
Children's Alopecia Project
What a ride
This incredible and unexpected ride began in the spring of 2011. By August 2013, the book was published by the Children's Alopecia Project in print form. We have been very pleased with sales of that edition. Use, or share, this link --->>Maddie: Teaching Tolerance with a Smile to purchase the printed book directly from CAP.
I published a special ebook edition within weeks of the print book release. After starting in the tens of thousands (in terms of Amazon's children's book rankings), Maddie broke into the Top 50 just prior to Christmas. It climbed through the 30s and settled in the upper 20s before breaking into the Top 10.
I've included extra bonus features in this version that provide background information, extra photos, and illustrations. Each item helps to tell the complete story of this book's birth.
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Here's a link to this great (print and online) article that the Reading Eagle recently published about our story Maddie: Teaching Tolerance with a Smile: Book chronicles Wyomissing teen's journey since being diagnosed with alopecia
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Thank you to Stacey Stauffer (Fox 29 Philadelphia). She interviewed Madison Woytovich, her parents (Jeff and Betsy Woytovich) and me about the latest chapter in this inspiring story. Here's a video link to Stacey's wonderful feature.
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Feel free to click on any of my interviews with famous athletes and sports' personalities...
Jaromir Jagr: Current NHL Forward and Future Hall of Famer
Philadelphia Flyers' Bernie Parent: Postgame reflections
Bobby Clarke: Philadelphia Flyers' Legend Talks Hockey
Ron Hextall Recalls His Greatest Season
Kerry Fraser: NHL Referee is Still Making the Right Calls
Vince Papale: Former Philadelphia Eagle/Subject of the Movie "Invincible"
Kevin Turner: Former Philadelphia Eagle Discusses ALS-Concussion Link
Ron Meyer: Blessed2Play Sports Talk Show Has Global Reach
Allison Baver: US Olympian Facing Every Challenge
It only takes a few minutes to read some of my other stories as well:
Horror Story: It Was Crawling Up My Chest!
Television Haiku Poem
My First Car Was An All-Time Classic
The Best Holiday Memories
When Baseball Cards Were King
Could One Baseball Shatter The Summer?
The Night Lenny Dykstra Was Swinging In The Rain
5 Traits of Hardcore Philadelphia Phillies' Fans
Philadelphia Flyers' Topps Hockey Card Mystery Revealed
5 Lessons Flyers' Fans Have Taught The Hockey World
5 Traits Old School Flyers' Fans Possess
A Model's Life: An Interview with Kourtney Reppert
Ellen Wasser-Hrin: Behind the Scenes of the Modeling World
Model and Actor Rachael Platt-McMullan Proves Why Dreams Are Worth Pursuing
Ellen Wasser-Hrin: Behind the Scenes of the Modeling World
Model and Actor Rachael Platt-McMullan Proves Why Dreams Are Worth Pursuing
Samantha Paisley's Great Success Story
Megan Irminger: Model Management Agency Has Another Rising Star
Megan Irminger: Model Management Agency Has Another Rising Star
An Actor's Life: An Interview with Mary Frick
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Amazon.com is the number 1 online publishing platform in the world. That's why I used it to publish my first ebook:
Amazon.com is the number 1 online publishing platform in the world. That's why I used it to publish my first ebook:
This mini-tome is a collection of stories and poems for readers who don't take themselves too seriously. I hope that you enjoy it and am always interested in your feedback.
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