Carrie Fancett Pagels' Appearances and Book Launch Schedule for Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter!!!

TODAY, Monday, May 9th, 2016, at 11 AM EST (click here to go) I'll be kicking off the Celebrate Lit's Summer Author bash.  Twenty Christian Authors, over a period of two days, will be giving away all kinds of books and goodies and there is a Kindle Fire giveaway, too!!! Here's an opportunity to ask questions about my books -- especially about my upcoming June (ebook) and July (paperback) release of Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter (White Rose/Pelican)!!! I have a giveaway of the ebook copy Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter plus a pair of Fleur de Lis earrings and some pretty ceramic earrings. I'll also be giving away a set of the Christy Lumber Camp books (Family Fiction Book of the Year finalists all PTL and The Fruitcake Challenge was a Selah Award finalist.) 

Later in the week, this Saturday March 14, at 10 AM, I'll be speaking to the Hampton Roads Christian Fiction Writing Fellowship on Backstory and Why it Matters: How to Interview Your Characters Like a Psychologist. there is no fee for this presentation, which takes place at the Chesapeake, Virginia, Barnes and Noble. 

There will be a Blog Hop the end of May, into early June, with fifteen authors from Celebrate Lit, with ebook giveaways of Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter at each stop plus a giveaway of a Kindle Fire to one of the overall celebrants! I'll be announcing that schedule later.

In mid to late June, a Facebook party for Christian fiction writers with European setting books will take place, with book giveaways and a Grand Prize that includes a Kindle Fire! Authors Melanie Dickerson, Roseanna White, Sarah Sundin,  Debbie Lynne Costello and of course myself will each have a slot during the party and would enjoy visiting with our online guests!

July 9th I'll be doing my very first STORE book signing at the College of William and Mary Bookstore in Colonial Williamsburg. This is on a Saturday during the popular Farmer's Market! I'll be there from 10 AM until 1 PM. I'm really excited about this one! I've done book signings before but this is my first one where they are ordering for me through the BookMaster system and will be setting it up at the store. 

Sunday, July 24th, I'll be at the Tahquamenon Logging Museum, in Newberry, Michigan, doing a book signing during their Music Festival weekend. Don't forget to have a wonderful Lumberjack's Breakfast, which they'll be offering that day and Saturday! 

I'll be speaking at the St. Ignace Library in St. Ignace, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula on Wednesday, July 27th. I'll be discussing researching for my Christy Lumber Camp books, in particular for the local area. 

The weekend of July 30th and 31st you may find me either "in character" attired in 18th century clothing at Rendezvous in the Soo or opting to stay in my contemporary clothing! Possible book signing if I don't choose to simply enjoy the event! 

Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Giveaway and Question: Ebook copy of Saving the Marquise's Granddaughter, now available on pre-order on Nook and Kindle!!! Which of these events do you think you might be able to attend? Hope to see you there!  

Carrie Fancett Pagels - Overcoming ASD One Step at a Time

The Bus Ride in Charlottesville

We’d made it through five years, numerous doctors, over three years of occupational and speech therapies, diagnosis of ASD, special education pre-school program, and medication to manage the severe tantrums. And we had a new normal—absent the screaming melt downs and bizarre behaviors. Then Sissy went to college.  Some setbacks. But that was about to be remedied—Sweetie Boy and I made a road trip to the college. My little fellow sat in the back of the van, watched videos, talked with Mommy, and even stopped to go to a fast food restaurant on the way. Whew! Was breathing a sigh of relief.

We parked and found our way to the International dorm, where our then 18-year-old daughter stayed her first year at the University of Virginia.  So far so good.  She suggested we try a couple of kid-friendly activities in downtown Charlottesville and said there was excellent bus transportation.  So we walked to the corner and got on the bus.  Which was crowded. And loud. And strange. Sweetie Boy clung to the two of us.  We got to our stop and walked to the Children’s Museum, which he enjoyed. Then went to get something to eat.  By now Sweetie Boy was getting tired and not so sweet.  Time to head out.

Return trip, crowded, loud, strange, slightly smelly, and loaded with people who stared at my little guy whenever he did anything slightly different from what five-year-old boys were supposed to do on a bus. My daughter became silent. Honestly, I don’t even remember what all of his odd behaviors were back then, but probably some repetitive stereotypic behavior was happening.  And I kept thinking—he’s been doing so well! Our new normal, though, wasn’t good enough for this college town crowd. We got off the bus discouraged and went to get our van.

Except that as I approached the van, someone else’s car was hanging off of it in the garage, literally.  A teen driver pulled in too close and got his vehicle hung up on mine.  So I have a five-year-old child with ASD who has just had a trying day and who has to be watched unceasingly who is in a garage with all these cars going through and a police officer trying to get things straight.  I was ticked.  Someone’s split second decision to pull into a too tight space was now about to blow the top off the rocket that had a slow burn going all day.  I sent Sweetie Boy outside with his sister and urged her to not take her eyes off of him for a second (he was a runner). Two hours later we finally hit the road.

 

Any parent of a special needs child should be able to relate to what I am talking about. It’s that reminder that all the improvement isn’t good enough for the world. That problems are still there. But sometimes we need that reminder so we don’t have expectations that are too high.  I needed that reminder then as we began our new school year and adjusted to changes at home.

What about you?  Do you have a loved one with special needs?  How do others react when your loved one doesn’t behave according to their expectations?