Submitted by Suellen (Oliver) Campbell (ACS)
A short note to announce the publishing of my children’s book, “Mariah’s Gift.”
After 30 years as a pre-school teacher, I retired 2 years ago and began writing the book I had had in mind for 10 years.
“Mariah’s Gift” is about a young coyote who investigates her desert world for the first time. Along the way she makes friends who have been given particular gifts specific for their life in the desert, and by the end of the day Mariah discovers the special gift she was given by the Loving Spirit.
It was written with 5-10 year-olds in mind, and particularly my grandchildren, but I have had adults also find meaning and joy from the message in Mariah’s Gift.
Thank you, Bob for putting this in the Saigon Kids this month. I am still amazed at the people who have read my book and comment on its positive message. It was a labor of love, a longtime in coming.
P.S. Amazon has the best prices. I recommend the paperback version for pricing.
My pleasure Suellen — Teaching stories are always a good thing! My grand mother was full blooded Apache Indian. When I was a child she told me many Apache teaching stories. The *Desert Spirit* is very powerful – 🙂 . By the way, the coyote is viewed as a *trickster* by the desert Indians.
I hope you sell a million copies and get on the best sellers list soonest.
Bob
What a lovely gift of teaching stories your grandmother gave you. Did you ever write them down? I would be interested in reading them. What a heritage legacy from her.
While teaching I collected quite a few Native tales that I enjoyed sharing with my class each year. Many of them were trickster tales from the Southwest, South American and Africa. For some reason the children always loved these tales the best of all. I think the satisfaction of knowing the trickster was at the receiving end of some bit of revenge at the end of the story was reassuring to them. Tales of Anasi the Spider, Coyote Steals the Blanket, and Papagayo were some of my favorites.
Would love to sell million copies just to get this message into the hands of as many children as possible, however, I decided the distribution was more important than the money and signed a contract whereby I was able to keep the price reasonable and I will receive very little from “Mariah’s Gift.”
Thanks for the encouragement and mention of my book.
Hope this is a great week for you!
Hugs,
Suellen
Suellen – An Apache bedtime story just for you — 🙂
Go girl!
Thank you, Bootsie. It was a long time coming but a legacy gift to complete for my grandchildren.
Dear Suellen, Best of luck with it! I’m also doing a book. I’ve always thought We Saigon Kids, due to our unique experiences, have a few special insights of our own the homies need to learn! Have you ever been back?
Sincerely,
Chalmers Wood, [Saigon Kid ’58-’59 /Special Forces)=’68-’69, /Teacher/Pvt Diplomat = ’99,& ’06. Will go again after book’s done]
You might enjoy my short story “Ben’s Breakfast”, scroll down here:
https://www.facebook.com/chalmers.wood
😉
Dear Chip,
My husband and I recently took an Asian cruise and had just one day in Saigon. What a wonder! The old mixed with the new was certainly memorable for me. Much was very familiar and much more was astounding. The 2 hour ride from the cruise terminal was filled with country shops, lotus ponds, rice fields and temples, and then the excitement of reaching the city with its skyscrapers, bridges and freeways. Wow! Glad I had researched before we took our cruise or I might still be in a culture shock of the reverse nature.
Best of luck with your book. Saigon Kids continue to amaze and inspire me.
Hi Suellen, Chip from 40 Phung kao Quan, Saigon, ’58-’59. Hope all is well with you and family. You might enjoy my first pod cast, spooky, and much about the Grateful Dead.
youtube: ” cryptobeast #19 ”
Enjoy, and please get in contact.
Chalmers Wood
philosopher@usa.com