Tag: Birdie & Mipps

Zooming In To Wisconsin

Barbara Gruener

Not sure I’ll ever forget this moment, when my late brother Mark’s friend Mike tells his sister’s class that he was gifting each of them a copy of Birdie & Mipps.

Is this not just the most adorable shot of them digging in?

But my favorite has to be this budding author looking at Mipps’ memory page.

I am grateful to have been able to put Mark’s picture in the back across from the reflection questions; turn the page to find empathy enrichment activities and name extension ideas. Publishing with Road To Awesome has been an incredible experience. Holding this special delivery sent my soul soaring.

And reading with our granddaughter, Leah? A joy we’ve not known, until now

If you have your copy, we’d love your feedback over at BN online.

Happy summertime, dear reader.

Front Page News

Barbara Gruener

Yesterday was a special birthday; it would have marked my late brother Mipps turning 56, but it also served as the release of our tribute book, Birdie & Mipps.

I’m so grateful that Road To Awesome would choose to publish our passion project.

I’m also so thankful that the Reporter News deemed our story front page newsworthy!

I’ve been told repeatedly that it’s important to make grief our friend, wear it like a shawl even, so that’s what I tried to do once I came out of that initial fog, embrace grief and give my pain purpose.

I hope you’ll like our story, dear reader; do leave your feedback for our other friends here.

Young Authors’ Day

Barbara Gruener

I had the most incredible time on Friday celebrating the 20th-annual Young Authors’ Day at Willow River Elementary in Hudson, WI; what a treat to be invited to be their special guest and get to share our story. I’m so grateful to Sarah and her beautiful school family for the warm welcome and loving kindness throughout the day.

To walk into the library and see our book among these special literary picks?

PRICELESS!

Sometimes it just doesn’t seem real, that I get to travel around helping young writers learn about the publishing process from seedling idea to hardback book. It gives me great joy to answer their questions and sign words of encouragement in my book for them. My favorite new phrase? Sometimes empathy is quiet.

So what’s next? As another school year winds down and we slide into summer, our release of Birdie & Mipps is just around the corner, set for next week, May 23rd, 2024. This Thursday, I’ll be at our Friendswood Library to talk with local young authors about publishing, then we’ll do a “Hello-my-nickname-is” activity before our fabulous librarian Christina and I read the book aloud. I get to play the older sister Birdie, while she tackles the role of a very curious Mipps.

Didn’t she do an incredible job on the invitation?

Oh, and before I head out, a huge shoutout to Julie Garnett for showcasing Mr. Quigley’s Keys on her Musical Storytime Plus. We are super grateful to be a part of her stellar storytelling family.

Do let me know if you’d like to schedule an author visit for your budding writers.