THE BAND BUSTERS

Pride, destruction, and pathos threads through this calamitous story. This could be the wildest story in rhyme you’ve ever read, where all adversities are overcome and good wins over evil. Read more

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

A CALL & LETTER FROM STATER BROS. MARKET

I sent my book ,“Wobbly Bags a Thief,” to the president of Stater Bros. Market in San Bernardino, CA with ideas how to sell and promote it. My intent was to have the stores give the buyer a miniature shopping cart with the sale of each book. Within a few days I received a phone call from the representative of the company followed by a letter you’ll find below. Enclosed in the letter was a Gift Card for $25 to be used at any Stater Bros. Market. In essence, the representative told me that outside vendors took care of their promotions, but he would send the book to their Stater Bros. marketing department for their consideration.
STATER BROS. MARKET P.O. - Box 150 - 301 Tippecanoe Ave. - San Bernardino, CA 92408 - (909) 733-5000

April 28, 2009

Dear Mr, Mayerhofer:

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me on Monday, April 27, 2009 regarding your letter and children’s book that you recently sent to Jack Brown, the Chairman and CEO of Stater Bros. Markets.

After speaking with you, I read your story about “Wobbly,” a supermarket shopping cart. Your story was enjoyable, but thank goodness the vast majority of Stater Bros. shopping cars don’t have such a coloful and adventuresome existence.

As we discussed, unfortunately we are unable to promote or sell your book directly in our supermarkets as we obtain our products through authorized vendors. I will pass on your book to our Marketing Department who has contact with the vendors for any possible interest.

I wish you well in your writing and publishing career. I was very interested to read of your various career endeavors and academic accomplishments.

Thank you for sharing your book with us and for your interest in doing business with Stater Bros. Markets. Please accept the enclosed $25.00 Stater Bros. Gift Card as a “Thank you” for taking the time to write us and for your loyal patronage.

Best wishes for your continued success.

Sincerely,

George A. Frohm

Executive Vice President, Retail Operations

COMPLIMENT ABOUT MY WEBSITE

This is short note from a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), a fine organization I belong to.

“Your web site rocks! I would love to record a book for you if you ever need a female voice or record one with you.”

All my best,

Channe Nolen

DR. DONALD RICHARDS & KIWANIS CLUB

My friend, Dr. Don Richards, a dentist who’s now retired, invited me to speak to the Palmdale, CA, Kiwanis Club at the ungodly hour of 7:00 am. I asked, “What shall I talk about? He responded, “Talk about your three careers: big band trombonist for 13 years, school band director for 27, and children’s author for 18.” “How much time do I have?” was my next question. Twenty minutes was his answer. It took me 16 months to write my FIVE STAR autobiography, “Diary of a Young Musician: Final Days of the Big Band Era,” and that was only the first part of the three topics he wanted me to discuss. I planned on concentrating on my children’s author’s period, but my opening statement would be about my scholarship to Juilliard School of Music at the age of 18, and then spend a few minutes talking about how I broke into the big band scene. I never got passed the big band stories that I happily found enthralled my mature audience. I went over my allotted time by about 10 minutes and finally stopped. When the group laughed at my stories at the beginning of the talk I decided to stay on the same subject. I was on a role so why change. They invited me to give another talk in May, this time about my children’s writing experience that I know I’ll enjoy. A few days later Don called and said he had a check for me from the Kiwanis Club. The members decided to donate two books each to seven schools in Palmdale, a wonderful gesture on their part. I met Don the next morning at a Starbucks where I gave him the autographed books. We ended up talking about his electric bass playing, his favorite subject, and also his lessons from a first-class teacher. He and his wife Donna are fine people and truly a joy to be with.

DR. SEUSS DAY–MARCH 2

I was invited to read my stories to the first, second, and third grades at St. Mary’s School. It was fun. I left them two of my books as a gift for their library, “Horace the Great, and “Wobbly Bags a Thief.” In the afternoon I read to Mr’s Altobelli’s third grade class at Ocotillo School, also in Palmdale CA . They enjoyed my story, “Wobbly Bags a Thief” so much, they asked me to read “Horace the Great,” a story in rhyme.” While there I gave them an inspirational talk how they could become better students. Mrs. Altobelli said the comments were sensational and thanked me for them and for the readings. It was truly an enjoyable hour. I then read to a kindergarten class before I left. Mrs. May, another kindergarten teacher, bought both my books before I left. I was surprised that evening to read a comment on my web site from an unnamed student in Mrs. Altobelli’s class who had read my story, “The Silent Flute,” that you’ll find below:

“Thank you for coming to see my class. I wish that the little girl never died. She probably looks at you from high above. Thank you for coming to OUR class room in Mrs.Altobelli’s class!”

It was a very successful day.

NOTE: The local Kiwanis Club donated six of my children’s books to Ocotillo School that were going to be read by two woman the same day I was going to be there. As I walked into the lobby of the school to read, a women called out to me ( she was one of the readers). “I’m a former student of yours at Yucca School,” she said. It was Patty Hayman, one of the students in my flutophone class in 1963. Her brother Buddy played in my concert band. The combined 90 flutophone students and band played a concert to an appreciative audience at the final year’s performance. This was my first year of teaching. The superintendent of school’s son was in the band so the father was in attendance. He called me into his office the following day not to compliment me but to reprimand me for playing “Little Brown Jug,” as one of the flutophone pieces. We also had performed “Moon River” at the same concert because that was the hit of the year. He said,” It was inappropriate to have played that drinking song “Little Brown Jug.” His father, a Methodist minister, had said it was an evil song. I answered that I had found it in the school music book that had been approved by the board of education. His face turned red upon giving him that information, realizing he had made a mistake. The board replaced him the following year (for other reasons).

ACCOLADES FROM A NIECE

MESSAGE FROM MY BUDDY

This is a message I received from Charlie Dana–Music Educator, professional trombonist, and big band arranger: “We’ve checked out a few of your stories for children–really great!–keep ‘em coming! (You old horseshoe champ!)

Charlie was one of the many fine Korean veteran musicians attending New York State University at Potsdam NY, sometimes known as PU (short for Potsdam University). He and I had a blast playing in the trombone section for a fine musical comedy totally created by Delta Kappa, one of the college fraternities. Charlie and his wife Barbara have been very involved for years in the leadership of the “Four Freshmen” fan club, and haven’t missed a single convention no matter what part of the country they were held.

HORACE THE GREAT

I recently found out two top reviewers for amazon.com gave my book, “Horace the Great,” FIVE STARS. The publishers are presently printing more copies of the book that will be available in my bookstore in about two and a half weeks…Felix

AMAZON.COM PROFESSIONAL REVIEWERS:

The perfect children’s book!

My child LOVESs this book, I mean LOVES it, I have to read it to him every night! He even will pretend to be Horace, It is sooo cute!

Great Book, October 6, 2008 By Gerry House “Gerry House” - See all my reviews My two year old loved the pictures and the story- so much so we bought him his own harmonica. Great story.

KATIE TOSSES A RINGER

Katie, a no nonsense farm girl, takes up the game of horseshoes during summer vacation, practicing from morning till the dark of night.  During the village horseshoe tournament, the old “codgers” underestimate Katie, and don’t realize they’ll soon be bucking against a homegrown tornado. Read more

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

THE TALKING BOWS

If the Disney style is a favorite of yours, this is the story for you.  Not only does it feature all the strings, violins, violas, cello, and stringed bass, it even has a banjo for comic relief.  Country western, the classics and jazz are all included.  To top it off the bows are the main characters, a unique change in the magic world of strings. Read more

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

« Previous Page — Next Page »