Hello Again....It's Been a Minute!!

Wow....I can't believe it has been over a month since I have stopped by to blurt out some thoughts on my blog. Let's just say, it has been a jam-packed last couple of weeks. The week following the launch of my virtual blog tour, I got THREE wisdom teeth pulled. Two of which were impacted. I was home from work for a WEEK! I thought the discomfort would subside after the first few days but....NOPE! In fact, after day three the pain got worse because the muscles in my neck were strained from the jerking and me tensing up. I ended up making THREE trips to the doctor during my recovery....partly because I am a hypochondriac and partly because I have a high tolerance for pain so if I feel "pain-pain"...something is wrong.

Since then I have presented at a teacher's educational conference on how to start a teacher blog- you can visit this site that I created for the purpose of the presentation. There are several links and tutorials on just about everything you need to start blogging or to dress up a blog you already have!

During this conference I also debuted the softback version of my book!! I sold quite a few and I learned a lot about how to "sell" myself. I am not big on talking or on taking the spotlight. I am usually the mastermind and executer who lets someone else take the grand spotlight. When I plan programs for my students, they take the spotlight. So this talking about myself to generate a sale is .....different. One thing I have learned through this process is that I most definitely have to step out of my comfort zone. And I am learning how to do this more and more as I go along.

The week following the conference, I presented a workshop for teachers called Just for Teachers where I shared teaching resources that can accompany my new children's book. I talked about how these resources can be used in class and their benefits. Again...my brain earned a few wrinkles because this too was a learning experience.

So here I am now planning for THE book launch...The Summer in the City Block Party Book Launch! It is scheduled for April 20, 2013 at a local children's library. If you are in the area, you should go!! RSVP here! In the midst of planning for this unveiling I am still working full-time at the job that pays the bills and teaching part-time at Temple University. BUSY is an understatement. I am trying to wrap my head around this whole thing in a way where I am able to work SMART and get a BIG BANG for my BUCK! With this said...I am at a blogging standstill. I have so many ideas but just NOT enough time to share them all (I am sure most bloggers can relate to that). I would LOVE to retire early and pursue my career as a writer and "freelance" educator but.....I am not ready to make that leap just yet.

So I am thinking out loud here. In the future I would like to continue with my book reviews and reading activities as well as write about my journey as an independent author. Are you interested in reading about that? Do you want to know the ins and outs, the lessons, and the experiences I gain as I go through this process? I was on the fence...do I start a new blog or do I kind of transform this one? What are your thoughts?

Also, what questions do you have for me as a new independent author? Are you interested in publishing a children's book also? If so, feel free to leave some questions below. I would be more than happy to answer them : )

Thanks for stopping by,