by Lynn Sanders | May 31, 2018 | DMM Blog
Dear friends,
Have you ever thought of writing and publishing a book?
Would you like some help in moving that idea forward?
Would you like to use that book as a marketing tool for your business?
How do you get started on the journey of creating, publishing and producing that first book?
Let’s get down to the most practical aspect of getting your book out into the world.
As I’ve been learning from the experience of creating and publishing my children’s story,
Dancing With Tex, there are three phases in bringing your stories to life in a book format.
These are:
- Creating your story,
- Publishing your story,
- Marketing & Promoting your story.
While my business experience spans 30 years, writing, publishing and now marketing a children’s book has been a totally different experience. Like diving into unexplored waters… not knowing what to expect.
Fortunately, you can count on certain principles that remain the same.
Here are my top seven tips as you market ANY type of book
- Follow in the footsteps of those who have successfully gone before you. Study what they’re doing.
- Create a website page especially dedicated to your book. Mine is: www.DancingWithTex.com
- Hire a great graphic designer and/or publisher to upload your book into both an ebook and printed copy.
- Get a custom link from Amazon to your book. You can promote your book from your link to get more credit.
- Use a link shortener — like bit.ly – to customize your long link and shorten it. My book is at: bit.ly/DancingTex
- Build relationships with your audience by giving away an information product on your website. I’m giving away an audio copy of my book.
- Get reviews for your story on Amazon. It’s an effective way to gain more attention for your book.
BONUS TIP: After all that is done, you’ll want to publicize your book to the media.
Here’s a news article that was just published about my story.
http://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/local/article_927aecf1-6a0a-5dc1-bbb5-1a4e1fefa669.html
For those who’ve gotten my book, I’d be most grateful for your positive feedback on Amazon.
And — if you haven’t gotten a copy yet, I’m doing a free ebook promotion this August 6-8th, 2016.
You can go directly to Amazon.com on those dates, type in “Dancing With Tex,” and receive a free ebook.
Want to learn more about profiting from your own book? What would YOU most like t know?
Please get back to me, and share your thoughts. I’ll be offering more tips soon.
To Your Success,
Lynn
by Lynn Sanders | May 31, 2018 | DMM Blog
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Live for the journey, not the destination.”
~Neale Donald Walsch
You’re the heartbeat of our world.
You’re the dreamers, the movers, the shakers, the ones whose vision carries us all into a greater vision of our potential.
If you’re reading these words, I believe it’s no accident. I feel we’re all connected, and in a spiritual way, we attract similar energy into our lives.
As a fellow “Difference Maker,” you and I share the same passion to make a positive impact. Now, it’s take to get connected. Because together, we can do so much more.
I feel like I know you. It’s because like energy attract like. You and I recognize the desire for something more. Life has meaning where we are inspiring, motivating, and empowering others. But the journey hasn’t always been easy.
Our lives can get tossed and turned by the whirlwind of demands around us. If you’re like me, you’ve got ideas bubbling in your mind. You’re ready to forge ahead. But sometimes, you may feel uneasy. How will you achieve what you’ve been seeking? How do you have faith to believe in yourself? What steps do you need to take to make your vision come alive?
As I’ve learned, the key to making progress quickly is finding mentors. People who have traveled the road you’re on and made it across to the other side. Those who take you by the hand, connect you with other thought leaders, and build your influence. Those who believe you can make a difference in the world.
Through my life’s journey, I’ve been fortunate to touch the lives of many people. Most importantly, I’ve had cheerleaders on the sidelines. Wonderful coaches and colleagues who helped me move through the darkness and into the light.
Now I’m here to share what I’ve learned and serve you. To support you. Our team of Difference Makers are committed to your success. We make it happen by creating, telling and sharing your story. There is nothing greater than the power of your story to build your influence. It makes you unique. Let’s connect!
by Lynn Sanders | May 30, 2018 | DMM Blog
Meet A.G. Bell Montessori School: A Place Of Miracles
I believe there’s a higher reason for certain events that happen in our lives
You never know why at the time. But in hindsight, despite the challenges, you can step back and realize the gifts from each situation. When you give, you get back so much more. That’s what happened to me many years ago when I discovered A.G. Bell Montessori School. (http://www.agbms.org)
A.G. Bell is a unique private school, the only Montessori School in our nation mainstreaming deaf and hearing children through a little-known method called Cued Speech. At A.G. Bell, everyone excels, often surpassing everyone’s expectations. That’s why their slogan is, “Every day a miracle.” Miracles DO happen at A.G. Bell!
My encounter with this school began about twenty years ago. I was donating my poetry writing services for my temple’s fundraiser. A lovely woman named Mary Ann Lachman chose my services, and asked me to write a poem for her son, Ben’s Bar-Mitzvah.
“Tell me about your son,” I said casually. “So I’ll know more about him.”
Without hesitating, Mary Ann said, “I’m very proud of him. He is speaking in both English and Hebrew at his Bar-Mitzvah, and he’s totally deaf!” She paused, letting the shock value of her words sink into my mind.
“What?” I asked incredulously. I never knew this feat could be possible.
I don’t remember how long we talked, but the conversation was fascinating. At the conclusion, I asked her if I could visit the school in the near future, and she enthusiastically said, “Of course!”
While everyone loved the poem I wrote for Ben’s Bar-Mitzvah, the real gift to me was being able to learn about A.G. Bell Montessori and the impact of Cued Speech.
THE BENEFITS OF CUED SPEECH
Cued Speech was invented in 1966 by Dr. R. Orin Cornett to address the poor literacy that he found among his deaf students. Students functioned at an average of a 3rd or 4th grade literacy.
Why? Because while Sign Language is a perfect mode of communication for deaf to deaf conversation, it does not convey the same grammar, sentence structure or vocabulary as spoken language.
Determined to improve literacy among his deaf students, Dr. Cornett created a system where all the phonemes of speech could be communicated visually. He wanted to clarify lip-reading, so sounds that look the same on the lips could be represented on the hand. Eight simple handshapes represented all consonants and four positions around the mouth represented all vowels.
Cued Speech allowed students to speak or mouth the English words (or words from any language) and simultaneously use the hand shapes and positions to express themselves.
Likewise, a hearing person could speak in their own native language, and use Cued Speech to mirror their exact words. Cued Speech was easy to learn. People could learn the basics in a few days or a week, compared to the years needed to master Sign Language.
Helping Deaf Children Excel In Literacy & Learning
Mary Ann and her husband Ron quickly discovered how easy it was to learn Cued Speech, and found a teacher who was able to teach their son, Ben. Soon, Ben was learning to read, write and understand everything through Cued Speech…. just like his hearing peers. It was like a miracle! Even being able to freely communicate within the family was a great blessing. How could they best share this gift with others? It felt obvious they needed to start a school.
Knowing about the excellent approach through the Montessori method, Mary Ann and Ron decided to use the Montessori framework. This approach encourages children to be independent thinkers. They also wanted to integrate both hearing and deaf children, so all children could learn to be friends together. Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School was named after the famous inventor, Alexander Graham Bell, who pioneered the idea of capturing sound and recording it.
Soon, other families heard about A.G. Bell Montessori and their Cued Speech program. When they saw the great leaps in learning for their children, they got excited. Some people even moved to Illinois from other states just to bring their children to this school!
THE CHALLENGES IN DEAF EDUCATION
As time went on, I learned that some people in the deaf culture resented Cued Speech. It seemed Cued Speech was caught between two ways of thinking. That is slowly changing now, due to extensive proven research.
Those who only advocate for Sign Language may feel that Cued Speech pushes them towards being oral. Besides that, these people feel that using Cued Speech requires them to abandon deaf culture.
On the other hand, some cochlear implant surgeons feel that Cued Speech looks too much like Sign Language. They don’t take the time to understand its benefits.
A.G. Bell, one little school, knew that Cued Speech could be valuable to both the Sign Language and cochlear implant groups.
As their Board President, Sandy Mosetick later told me, “If your deaf child is going swimming or a room is very loud, you can’t rely on hearing aids or a cochlear implant.” She also wanted to use the same words to her daughter Rachel that she was speaking.
Just like Ben, Rachel achieved high literacy and academic skills through Cued Speech. She later mastered Sign Language and had cochlear implant surgery. No matter how Rachel chose to communicate, she could always use Cued Speech whenever she needed to be understood or heard.
This amazing school is like the train from “The Little Engine That Could.” They keep chugging away, overcoming challenges: the lack of awareness about Cued Speech, the biases still lingering in the deaf community, the inadequate funding support.
Yet their unswerving commitment to help families with children, both deaf and hearing, continues making a difference to so many families. What’s their next goal? Making Cued Speech accessible to everyone across the world!
INTRODUCING: CUE COLLEGE
The school just started an online site to train everyone, young and old, how to learn Cued Speech. It’s called, “Cue College.” (See: www.cuecollege.org.)
Funding is needed to complete the Cue College website. The site will bring so many benefits to children, families and adults. Families with deaf children will have immediate access to learning how to easily communicate with their own child. Children with implants will benefit from Cued Speech too. It’s not always easy to hear someone in a crowded, noisy room, or when swimming, bathing or in a large space. Using Cued Speech makes all the difference.
My hope is that ultimately, somewhere, someone will read this and think… “I know a child who can benefit from that school.” Special needs children also do amazingly well through Cued Speech.
Someone else may consider, “I want to help donate to this worthy cause.”
Or at the very least, someone might read this blog, and share its news to others who will experience a miracle by bringing their child to this school.
Spreading Hope, Inspiration and Transformation
My joy is telling positive stories like this to spread seeds of hope, inspiration and transformation. If you know someone who can benefit from knowing about this special school, please share this news with them. It could make all the difference in the world to that child and family.
Even though sweet Mary Ann passed away too soon, her legacy lives on. I know she would thank you for keeping her school in your heart.
We all make a difference in someone’s life. It’s just up to us to decide what kind of difference we want to make.
