Why more people need to read How David Met Sarah

It's truly hard to fathom that things like this actually happen.  According to a story reported by The Huffington Post: 

 "A Southern California family decided to splurge on first-class plane tickets for the first time but were denied entry onto the plane because their son has Down Syndrome, they claim."

This is why How David Met Sarah should be required reading for anyone who interfaces with the public in any way at all.  Adults with Down Syndrome are not overgrown children.  Adults with Down Syndrome are adults.  That this kind of discrimination could occur anywhere at all is hard to understand.  That it happened in Newark makes it even worse.  

Once in a blue moon...

Wow... it's hard to believe almost two months have gone by since I last posted.  It's not that there hasn't been news to share...it's just that so much has happened it's been impossible to keep up.

But I promise to do better...

I wanted to share a letter I received on our Facebook page (please visit and click Like!).  It made me smile... I hope it makes you smile, too:

Hi Annie, I have a short story I thought would make you smile. I am a part time life coach/in home provider for a 22 yr. old with DS. I was telling him about you, your brother and your books. We pulled up the blog so he could see who/what I was talking about. He decided right then to read the chapters on your blog for his hour of daily reading that his family does. So far he really likes the books and wants me to loan him my copies. He also said he'd like to email you when he gets done to give you his opinion and suggestions! Have a great holiday weekend!
H.

I can't wait to hear what he thinks :).


Happy Labor Day weekend to all... may you have a safe and relaxing holiday! 

FREE!

David and I had such a great time at the launch party last weekend.  We appreciate everyone who came out and we heard so many wonderful things about our stories, that we decided we wanted to share the books with as many people as possible.  So, to celebrate the July 4th holiday, today through July 8, download your Kindle version FREE from Amazon.com of BOTH How David Met Sarah AND When David was Surprised.  

If you don't have a Kindle, you can download a free Kindle app.

Please download your copies and help us spread the word.  Then tell us what you think by leaving a review on Amazon, liking us on Facebook, or following us on Twitter @anniekelleher.  Thank you so much.... Annie and David.  

You're invited!

Launch Party & Book Signing

Saturday, June 23^rd, 2012

1:00 – 2:30 PM

The Pennington Library

30 North Main Street

Pennington NJ 08534

609-737-0404

Join Anne, her brother, David Kelly– the inspiration for the books – and their family and friends to celebrate the release of When David was Surprised, the sequel to How David Met Sarah.  They are the first two of a planned five book series, and copies of both will be available for autographing by Annie and David. 

Endorsed by the National Down Syndrome Society, How David Met Sarah *has garnered praise from families, librarians, caregivers, psychologists, reading specialists and special education teachers for both its accessibility and its insights into the world of the developmentally disabled.  

These novels about a young man with Down Syndrome who falls in love with a young woman with Autism are both content and reading level appropriate for adults and young adults of most reading abilities. 

How David Met Sarah and When David was Surprised are also available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble online.  Read more about the stories and how they came to be written at http://HowDavidMetSarah.blogspot.com. 

*Twenty per cent of the profits are donated to the

National Down Syndrome Society.

New giveaway!

In celebration of the soon to be available print version of When David was Surprised, we're offering a new giveaway:  25 free copies of When David was Surprised - to be picked at random the day of our launch party on June 23rd.  I hope you will enter, tell your friends to enter and if you are in the neighborhood, stop by the Pennington Library between 1 and 2:30 PM to say hello!

Thought for today

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing." - Henry Miller.

That quote reminded me of something a lot of people tell me after they've read How David Met Sarah and When David was Surprised.  The books help them to see the world from a different perspective.

What other books do that for you, Gentle Reader? 

Check out this link!

The Book Biz.... West Hartford CT....April, 2012...

June 23 - Save the date

June 23rd is a magical day according to old Celtic beliefs, and I hope you will consider joining my brother, our friends and family on Saturday, June 23rd from 1 to 2:30 PM as we celebrate the launch of When David was Surprised at the Pennington Public Library in the delightfully quaint town of Pennington, NJ.

 I'll be reading from the new book, refreshments will be served....and copies of both books will be available for  signing by both my brother and me.  

Twenty!!!

....five star reviews on Amazon and ten five star reviews on Goodreads!  Read them all HERE and HERE :).

And we did it!!

All twenty Goodreads Giveaway copies are in the mail and on the way to their new owners....Jake and I did got them all signed, stuffed, addressed and mailed by two pm today!

Congratulations...

to all the Goodreads Giveaway winners!  Jake and I - more on that on my other blog HERE - will be putting together the packages to send out this week...I ask everyone to be patient...twenty books is a lot of books to package up :).

It's a book!

When David was Surprised is now available as an e-book.... print version coming soon! 

Seventeen...

five star reviews on Amazon.... a new one was added today..Read it HERE :).  

Sneak peek!

Scroll down on the right to read the first two chapters of When David was Surprised....

Where David Went

The second book is just a few weeks away from being released and I'm plotting out the story of the next book, Where David Went. In the story, David goes lots of places, including on a trip...without Mother and Pop.  When he comes home, however, I'm thinking he may have to face a major disappointment.  

It's difficult - as the writer - to imagine making a character that I love almost as much as I love my real brother face a loss of any kind.  And yet, conflict and change are what stories are all about.  I haven't quite decided what's exactly in store for David and the other characters in the book, but I do know that the characters are going to have to deal with some bigger issues - and bigger losses - than they have before.  

We are the world...

Tomorrow, I'm attending a networking meeting and I'm going to have to talk about what makes me or my "product" unique.  Before making the claim that How David Met Sarah is the only series of novels in the entire canon of Western literature narrated by a hero with Down Syndrome, I thought I'd better google it and find out, if in fact, there are any others.

While I'm still not sure I can make the claim, I did find a wonderful organization on the other side of the world in Australia, which was already aware of How David Met Sarah.  You can read their initial blog post about the series HERE.  Please visit and leave them a comment to let them know you were there... it gives me chills and goosebumps to realize that people all the way across the globe can enjoy these stories, too.

I can't wait to see the books in other languages, too... German, Spanish and Hebrew translations are in the works!  Chinese, too, hopefully, soon! 

And the winning name is....

A few months ago, the National Down Syndrome Society held their annual gala.  Along with a copy of How David Met Sarah, I donated a chance to have the winner's name in a novel.  Although it's too late to include the name in When David was Surprised, the third book in the series, Where David Went, is planned for release in the fall, and there're two more books after that.

I'm thrilled to tell you all that the winner's name is MOLLY (what a great name!) and the character will be the 16 year old cousin of Mariah, the girl who - as readers know - has a crush on David.  When Molly moves back to town, chaos ensues when Molly decides to try to help her older cousin capture the man of her dreams!

Please check out the National Down Syndrome Society's website for photographs of the February gala.  You can even see a photo of How David Met Sarah if you look very closely at one of the tables! 

One more time

When it comes to writing, I'm a perfectionist.  In high school, I learned that Flaubert, the author of Madame Bovary, sometimes spent entire afternoons contemplating the correct placement of a comma.
Unfortunately, I can relate.
People who know me know I am as happy-go-lucky in most other areas of my life as it's possible (and probably safe) to be.
But not when it comes to writing.
When it comes to writing, I can re-write forever.
So this weekend I'm putting one more gloss on When David was Surprised...in order to tweak a couple last things at the suggestion of my editor, and just in case I missed a few commas!

Did you know...

that March is Disability Awareness Month?  

Our latest review...

Some of what the Hartford Book Examiner had to say about How David Met Sarah:

"As the book’s subtitle (a very special love story) suggests, it’s a romantic predicament that demands much of the story’s focus. Indeed, David becomes infatuated with the new girl in town. (If only he could meet her!) Her name is Sarah, and she attends his church, occasionally eats at his favorite restaurant, and even considers joining his recreation group. Sarah is also Autistic.

The fact that Sarah doesn’t speak, at least not in the traditional sense (she communicates through sign), and seldom makes eye contact does little to dissuade David from believing that she is the girl of his dreams. Rather, he is convinced that they are meant to be together, and his attempts to make that happen are both heart-warming and humorous. This romantic angst will resonate with readers of all ages who have experienced the pains and pleasures of falling in love.

While David’s affections for Sarah may be the crux of the story, Kelleher offers several sub-plots of equal importance. She explores complex issues - impropriety in the workplace, bullying, familial discord, stereotyping, etc. – in deceptively simple prose. (I am reminded of a writer acquaintance who once said, “Easy reading makes for damn hard writing.”) Each is dealt with delicately but provides the opportunity for a teachable moment; they also illuminate the struggles faced by individuals and their caretakers.


How David Met Sarah is an important book on multiple levels. First, and perhaps foremost, it gives developmentally disabled readers an accessible, age and content-appropriate story to enjoy and a relatable protagonist to root for. Second, it provides parents, educators and caretakers a rare resource that not only entertains but also exposes the realities of what it’s like to live with a disability. If knowledge is power, then sharing that knowledge is empowerment - both for the messenger and the recipient.

Ultimately, though, How David Met Sarah’s greatest achievement may be something far simpler (and yet equally profound): It reminds us that, no matter our background, we all desire the same things in life – and that a sense of love and belonging is chief among them. It’s a true testament to Anne Kelleher’s skill as a writer (and passion as an advocate) that she manages to accomplish so much in such a slender volume. While "ground-breaking" is not a term to be used lightly, How David Met Sarah is deserving of such praise, and so much more


Continue reading on Examiner.com Book Review: 'How David Met Sarah' by Anne Kelleher - Hartford Books | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/books-in-hartford/how-david-met-sarah-review#ixzz1oQpZkn3V

Read our latest review...

Right HERE....!

We're planning the launch party...

If you're in the Princeton, NJ area, we hope you'll consider joining us.  More details coming soon!

It's here!

Goodreads Giveaway!

In celebration of the new release, we're holding a Goodreads Giveaway.... click on the link to enter!

Another five-star review

Please click HERE to read our latest FIVE STAR review on Amazon!

Booksigning at the Artists' Path Gallery - this weekend~!

In or near Connecticut? Please consider checking out the new Artist's Path Gallery at 583c Bantam Road in Litchfield, CT.  From 2:00 to 4:00 PM tomorrow, I'll be there signing books.  Stop by, say hello, and enter the raffle for our Share-the-Love basket filled with wonderful handcrafted goodies...I hope to see you then!

It's DONE :)

I finally finished the last revisions of When David was Surprised.  The manuscript turned out to be a little longer than it was originally, and I had a chance to give it another going-over, tweaking and fine-tuning the language.  I sent it to my editor at precisely 6:01 PM - coincidentally the time Baby Grace was born - so I'm hoping that is a very good omen!   And in other writing news, I'm thrilled to say that an agent has asked my husband for a look at his memoir.  Please keep your fingers crossed for both of us!

From a homeschooling parent....

My friend, Stacie, who homeschools her son, read How David Met Sarah and decided to assign it as a reading book:   

"I think it is the responsibility of every parent to introduce their children to a wide variety of life experiences. Different people, places, cultures, ideas, etc. in the hopes that their children will become kind, loving, understanding, and tolerant adults. As a homeschool parent, it's an even greater responsibility, as my son may not come into contact with as many people as the average schooled child. We don't have any friends or family members with Down Syndrome, so I asked my son to read How David Met Sarah, hoping it would allow him to see that people who may seem different on the outside, really aren't that different on the inside."

And this is what Stacie's 12 year old son, Levi, had to say after he read it:

"I really enjoyed your book. It did keep my attention and was interesting. It also improved my understanding of people with disabilities. The only thing that I saw that was different between David and any other person was that he needed a schedule and that he lived with his parents and needed their help a lot. David and most people seem to not be that different. They have the same wants and feelings and fears that we do, but usually just act a little different. I know very few people with disabilities so I can't say too much but, I have been a little nervous about what to say or if I will say the wrong thing to them. But the book helped me to understand that they aren't that different and are like normal people, so I should just talk to them like anyone else. To an everyday 7^th grader its almost too easy to read, but my mom told me that it's written for a 3^rd grade level."

Thank you, Stacie and Levi!

Now on sale on NOOK!

Go here to purchase your Nook copy!

THE GIFT: Books, Books, WONDERFUL Books: Review of 'How David Met Sarah' by Anne Kelleher

THE GIFT: Books, Books, WONDERFUL Books: Review of 'How David Met Sarah' by Anne Kelleher

In celebration of Valentine's Day...

How David Met Sarah is now ON SALE!!  All this month, you can buy a Kindle version for just ninety-nine cents!

Why "How David Met Sarah"

"We read to know we are not alone."
                                    Anthony Hopkins as C.S.Lewis in Shadowlands

If you haven't seen the film "Shadowlands," and you love books, I recommend you download, borrow or buy a copy.  It's about the relationship between the English author of the Narnia books and the American woman he marries and falls in love with, Joy Gresham. The line above is one of the single best explanations for the pleasure of reading I've ever heard. 

It's also why I wanted to write How David Met Sarah. 

At 36, my brother is not a child.  Although he has a disability, he wants many of the same things most adults I know want.  He wants a job he enjoys, and a special someone to love.  He likes to do things that are decidedly not childish - golf, international travel and opera are some of David's favorite past-times.  He's an active member of his church and serves in serveral capacities quite faithfully, including usher.

So active, in fact, in the community is my brother that it's difficult to go anywhere with him in the town he lives without running into someone who knows David.   He has challenges and limitations but who doesn't?   The more time I spend with him, the more I see how much we have in common.  We are more similar than different. 

I decided to write How David Met Sarah to give my brother an experience that I think most average readers take for granted - that sense of not being alone.  I wanted my brother to have what I have always had from the time I remember reading the Honey Bunch and Norman series in first grade... stories in which I could, in my imagination, stand in for one of the characters.  Reading has always been one of my greatest pleasures and I began to write because I wanted to do what all my favorite authors did.  Books continue to be my companions and my friends, providing hours of pleasure. 

With How David Met Sarah and its sequels, I hope to give some of that back.  

Another guest blogger...

"When I first read "How David Met Sarah" I was expecting it to be a special book; after all it was written for a special audience by a very special author (who in the interests of full disclosure I must admit to having known online for sometime.)  What I did not expect was how the characters and the story immediately engaged me. I was enchanted by David, whose life the reader immediately becomes a part of, and eager to accompany him through not only his daily routine, but on his adventure to meet the charming Miss Sarah.  I could not put it down till I had finished the story.

"Annie Kelleher has created a wonderful world, filled with 'real' people...the kind you would recognize if you met them on the street...and a heart-warming, and thoroughly enjoyable read.  Never once did I think, or care, that this story is written at a level for developmentally challenged readers, it shows her masterful hand in remaining engaging at any level. 

"I have a large and diverse family, including a son who is challenged by dyslexia.  And we have been blessed to foster children with many developmental delays, and to be friends with adults, like David, who are living full lives and meeting their own challenges.  I cannot begin to stress the importance of books like "How David Met Sara", not only in touching the lives of those 'adult' readers who have had so little age appropriate material at their reading level, but for all the rest of us who can, through this wonderful story, catch a glimpse of their lives...and make a new friend we might otherwise have never been privileged to know." 

Pamela C Reese

Thanks so much, Pam!

Three hundred "Likes?"

Small things mean a lot...in honor of Valentine's Day, will you share the love and help us get to 300 (or maybe even more?) likes" on our Facebook page? 

Thanks so much! 

Where to find me next...

Please consider joining me every first Sunday of the month from 2-4:30 PM at The Phoenix Rising Center in Thomaston, CT, where I will be facilitating an Artists' Way Study Group.  Our first meeting will be February 5th, but you don't need to attend the first meeting to join us.  Bring your book and something to write in.  Find more details here. 

Also, I'll be signing books and reading from both books at The Artists' Path Gallery on February 11, 2012 from 2-4 PM.  Please come for a chance to enter a raffle for a Share-the-Love basket of herbal treats and teas from my friends Rosemari Roast of Walk In the Woods,LLC and Kim Elovirta, whose amazingly all-natural face and body products can be found at The Holistic Garden in Unionville, CT. 

And... if you can't make it on Saturday, February 11th, please consider coming to the Holistic Garden on Sunday, February 19th, for another booksigning and reading, as well as a chance to win a Spring Sow-the-Love basket of herbal treats! 

Come for a sneak peek!

I'll be reading from When David was Surprised at the MidWinter Open Mike Night at Passiflora Tea Shop in New Hartford CT.  I hope you will consider joining me.   Passiflora features an all-organic, local as much as possible menu full of delicious soups, sandwiches, salads and other treats not to mention herbal teas, chais and lassis. 

Other writers will also share their work - feel free to bring yours or just come and listen...

Hope to see you there :).

Mother Wants To Advise Other Parents How To Help Developmentally Disabled Children Becoming Adults

Mother Wants To Advise Other Parents How To Help Developmentally Disabled Children Becoming Adults

Check out this interesting program in the Hartford Courant...by columnist Susan Campbell.

What How David Met Sarah means to families...

Judi Johnson Ferrara is the mother of two wonderful sons, one of whom is developmentally disabled.  Judi has been a tireless advocate for her son since he was young.  Most recently, Judi worked to ensure the passage of a bill in Pennsylvania that makes it more difficult for people who have a history of abuse to continue to prey on this vulnerable population. 

"As a parent of a special needs child I am always in search of ways to help others understand the world in which we live.  Toys and books that most parents take for granted are not always available to us.  When an author like Anne Kelleher takes on the subject in her book “How David met Sarah” it opens up a literary world virtually unknown to families like mine.  Books that delve into the subject of relationships are even more rare.  Books that can be read and enjoyed are true gifts.

Being able to read with your children is a wonderful way to show them another world out there.  A real world full of real people and some of them have special needs but they have the same needs as we all do.  They want to be loved and accepted in community.  With knowledge comes understanding.  As a parent I have had 27 years of sharing what my son Michael is like to those who meet his daily needs.  Having books available that show feelings and portray real life experiences of our children are great resources for all readers."
                                                                                           - Judi Johnson Ferrara, Wallingford, PA

Thank you, Judi!

I'm so thrilled to share...

The final draft of When David was Surprised... the second book in the series....is now in the loving hands of its editor.  While I'm anxiously awaiting her input, I'm also very eager to see what the new cover will look like.  Of course I will post it here as soon as I can. 

So what's next?  Many exciting things are happening, not to mention I'm already mapping out the plot of the THIRD book in the series, What David Found.  There will be a sneak peek of the first chapter at the end of the second book. 

I've already heard from many readers asking for bookplates - signed ones are available by emailing AnnieKelleher@aol.com.   I've also received some names of librarians in various places throughout the country.  Readers are telling me that libraries are thrilled to have the donation - their budgets are tight, too.  So keep those names and addresses coming....we want to share How David Met Sarah with as many people as we can. 

Thanks to everyone who  has already written to me... your books and bookplates are on their way! 

I did it...

The first draft of When David Was Surprised is fully outlined....the end of the middle flows into the beginning of the end at last.  Another few days and I'll be sending the manuscript off for its first editing...thanks for all your support!

Will you help us? Here's how...

Have you read and enjoyed How David Met Sarah?  Would you like a free copy of the next book in the series, When David was Surprised?  Please consider helping spread the word.

Here are a few things you can do:

1.  Help us social network.  Follow me on Twitter (@anniekelleher) and reTweet my tweets.  "Like" the book's page on Facebook, and invite your friends to "like" it, too.  Share the page's content - I'll be updating it soon, I promise! "Follow" this blog and comment... comments are wonderfully appreciated!  The top reTweeter, Facebook Friend (in terms of sharing and referring friends) and Blog Follower (in terms of commenting and sharing) will win a copy of the new book. 

2. We are happy to donate copies of How David Met Sarah to libraries.  Just email me (AnnieKelleher@aol.com) the name of your local librarian in charge of acquisitions, and the address of the library.   I'm also available to speak and sign at local libraries as well.  Help me make the contact; your community wins and so do you. 

3. Go to your local Barnes & Noble bookstore and ask for it.  Copies can be ordered, and if enough people ask for the books, the stores will start to stock them.  Email me the name and information of the store manager or the person who arranges signings and win the next book. 

4. Tell your friends.  Signed bookplates are available...the person who requests the most bookplates for friends who bought copies will receive the new book, too. 

People who've read the story tell me how much they love it... thank you so much from the bottom of my chest (as my brother would say) if you can help us reach others who might enjoy it, too.   When David was Surprised will be available in both eformat and hard copy on my birthday, March 31. 

Off to a good start

I had a chance to spend the day with my brother and most of the rest of my family today.  We all met at my sister's and there were so many of us that the children younger than 18 had their own table. 

David loved his gift - a framed poster from our book launch last month.  I decided not to share the chapters yet...the new story is still evolving and changing and growing.  Maybe this time, I'll make him wait...