Special Announcement about My Book

 

Special Announcement about My Book:

 

The Little Book that Keeps On Giving

 

by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

 

 

I have always loved books, libraries, and book stores; however, due to vision challenges (since early childhood), I could never read as much as I wanted to read.  Then, in 1980, after filling out the appropriate application, my world significantly changed when books recorded specifically for patrons who are legally blind or otherwise print challenged came into my life–thanks to the National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, of the Library of Congress.  For the first decade, I received books from the cooperating library in Indiana (Indianapolis); since 1991, I have been receiving audio books from the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library.  In recent years, I have been able to download audio books from this library service.  Through these nearly four decades, I have read, learned from, and enjoyed hundreds of books.  The first year after I retired from full-time teaching, I read over eighty books–a couple in braille and the remainder in audio format.

 

Now, can you imagine how excited I was and still am when I learned that my book The Christmas Carriage and Other Writings of the Holiday Season was accepted to be added to the collection of the National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Physically Handicapped?  On Tuesday, August 15, the librarian of the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library informed me that my 101-page book was available on Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD).  Today, August 16, when I downloaded my book for the first time, I was overwhelmed to hear the title of my book and my name given as the author!  When I put the special NLS cartridge into the NLS digital player and began listening to my book, I was thrilled, tearful, and humbled because I have so many individuals to thank for helping me to reach this goal.

 

A Brief Chronology of The Christmas Carriage

 

August, 2016:

To honor my third Leader Dog Zoe and my parents, I decided to dedicate a book in their memory.  The dedication page alone was an important motivation in my achieving my goal.  Additionally, I decided to select posts from my Wordwalk blog and from my other writings for a small holiday book, spanning Thanksgiving through January.

 

September-November, 2016:

I worked with DLD Books (Denver, Colorado) to produce my little book; after the initial publication, Leonore and David Dvorkin have continued to assist me in a variety of ways with other book-related goals.

 

December 1, 2016:

I officially announced my book on Wordwalk.  Throughout December, my Leader Dog Willow and I made many trips to the post office to mail copies of my book to all family members and friends on my Christmas card list; then, Willow and I enjoyed delivering other copies in our neighborhood.  My little book made the holiday season one of the most special of my life.

 

SUMMER OF 2017

 

July 15, 2017:

From Audio and Braille Literacy Enhancement (ABLE, of Milwaukee), I received the first copy of my book as recorded by a narrator at ABLE.  (This recording became a part of the NLS collection.)  Thanks to narrator Dave R. and the entire ABLE staff!

 

July 21, 2017:

David Dvorkin, of DLD Books, uploaded my book to Bookshare, where my book is available to individuals who belong to Bookshare.

 

August 5, 2017:

Thanks to Audio and Braille Literacy Enhancement (ABLE), its director Cheryl Orgas, and braillist Lenore T.—-I received the first copy of The Christmas Carriage and Other Writings of the Holiday Season in one braille volume.  Any braille reader across the United States, may order this braille volume for only $7.50 by contacting ABLE at 414/286-3039 or

info@ablenow.org

http://www.ablenow.org

 

August 6, 2017:

From a friend in Clinton, Indiana, I was delighted to learn that my print book will be available for sale at four festival locations at the Little Italy Festival, during the four days of Labor Day weekend.  Thanks to the LIFT Board and to Mary Fornero!

 

August 15, 2017:

For patrons of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (throughout the United States), my book (DBC 08305) is available on BARD.  Thanks to the staff at the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library!

 

For additional information about ordering the print or electronic version of The Christmas Carriage and Other Writings of the Holiday Season, please visit my author’s web page:

http://www.dldbooks.com/alicemassa/

On my author’s web page, you will also find that I extend even more thanks to Cindy Lesky, the photographer of the cover photo, and to other individuals.

 

My book certainly has been the little book that keeps on giving–giving me much creative satisfaction and joy.  Throughout this past year, my holiday book has brightened many of my days.  Special thanks to all who have read and will read my book, as well as to all who have given or will give my book as a gift!

 

With smiles of happiness,

Alice and Leader Dog Willow

 

August 16, 2017, Wednesday

 

 

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