As you all know, I am not famous. Neither is my book Wooffer or Wooffer, himself, except in smalll circles. But!!!! And this is a big but... there are children who would really, and I do mean really love to contact us not so famous authors. They need the hope when they are 12 old or so. It is the time that the soul is trying to express it's own self (that is my own opinion) and to put word to paper is such a laughed at thing these days. Be that as it may be, these children need the encouragement we can give.

I wondered if anyone would be willing to be a kind of pen pal to a school class room for a little while. Say, for instance, they were studying Civil War, and they could rely on Carol Troestler because she has studied that era and written books about the real people. Or, they were into the history of country music and E Don could add his expertise, and A. Ahad could enlighten them about the stars. My mind is just beginning this thought. I hope that you all can see how you can help and be famous to a small group of kids at the same time. There is no money in it, but maybe some smiles and enhancing some dreams.

I think back on my old life and the times that someone showed me a light for one of my dreams that seemed so impossible at the time...it may have just been a smile or a touch of someone's hand guiding mine, but each of those touches were as electric as a light coming on in my heart. There are no small acts of kindness. Every kind act has ripples that resonate into the future.

I do go on.

Let me know what you think.

Love,
Betty

I want to go on.

JoElle, Brew, Marie, Pam, Zada, Shelagh, DT, Dick,...I feel that I should name you all lest you think I do not mean you in this adventure. I am sorry to not mention all that are looking in that I do not know. I hope you see.

Ah, Dick, can you imagine a child who wants to be a mystery writer...well that would be me, too....getting a note from you and some advice on how to begin if you are 12 years old. I think it would have been life altering for me at that age. Well, right now it would work, too. hahahah.

Joelle, you are an elf. I have seen your little ears in the green woods with sparkles all around. Imagine what you can do for a small child looking out for elves. It would be magic. You are magic.

Ann, my lovely serious and beautiful reflection....All children understand heros. From Babe Ruth to The Blue Ox, every child understand the wonderful thing a hero is. It is their dream for themself, to be a little special in the whole of things. I imagine that is every human's goal...to make a mark of some sort other than the usual being born and dying. It is only in olden age that we forget we had that dream. Keeping dreams alive. You do that.

Brew.
I wonder if you would like to donate a story you have on Amazon Shorts. Just a thought.

The way I am, I have found out that my book will never be famous from PA' efforts or mine. I have decided that I would just as soon have my words read any where and every where for free. If not one thing else, the little kids that read it for free will have had a nice time doing it and perhaps it will set a young mind at ease to write their own stories.

Love
Betty

Betty, I think you have come up with a grand idea! (Geez, did I just
say that? I don't think I have used "grand" as an adjective before).
Anyway, count me in. The only Amazon short I did was The Good Ol' Boys ~ Catfishin', and it has beer drinking in it.

Better, I think is the Indian related information I have picked up -
mostly about the southeastern tribes, and especially the Creek and
Seminole (who are related).

Are you thinking of one school that you know of, or has this *grand* idea grown to epic proportions?

And while I'm here... why do my posts have short lines for a while, then suddenly one appears that covers the entire area?

I thought at first it was when I copy/paste from Word, but nope. It
happens when I type directly into the box, just like I'm doing now.

EDIT: See? It did it again!

Betty,
A few years back an author friend of mine, who was also an English teacher got a group of us writers together as mentors. She told anyone at the school that was interested in writing to write their short stories and submit them to her. She would inturn enter them into a word document and forward to one of the group to critique. For security purposes the writers never had direct contact with the students. For about a year I was mentoring two girls and a boy that wanted to write adventure stories. It was a lot of fun watching their writing grow.

Betty, what a beautiful idea. You have hit on something that is, I think, so important, and also could certainly be improved upon when it comes to educating the future writers of the world. As our libraries continue to cut budgets and shrink collections, and kids turn more and more to electronics, this will make more and more sense.

It's a great idea, Betty. Let me know what I can do.

Ann

Betty,
Grand idea and this would be a more caring and sharing way forward for us all, after all, the children are our future's future.
I have given a few talks in my local schools and colleges in the past and I still get the occasional e-mail "What was that bright star I saw the other night?"

Proud to be in your circle...

Betty,

That is a beautiful idea. Now we need a school, or a few schools or a lot of schools.

JoElle, there was a movie on TV about a man with Tourette's syndrome that was a teacher. He had contact with a semi-driver who emailed regularly as to where she was. He had a big map in his room of where the "red truck" was. Thus he taught geography that the kids could relate to. Then the "red truck" came to the school one day and the kids were ecstatic!

I also went to eighth grade social studies classes about my book, and one student interviewed me for a book report. A long time ago a fifth grade class in the next town gave a play I had written. They invited the author, gave her a special chair and afterwards each one came up and shook my hand. They didn't know I wasn't a "famous" author.

I think it would work!!

Carol

An excellent idea, Betty.

I think this is a great idea, Betty. That must have been your light I saw shining brightly in the Eastern sky last night!!

Betty,

I would love to help--I like all of-- your ideas and you also.

SInce you do not have me it the category of unfamous authors--I will be glad to serve as a famous author. I would be honored to have Brenda and lin serve with me. They can tell the kids how to write and I will tell them to avoid PD.

They will love us.