Cheri Fuller's Blog

Can’t Miss Treasures for Children

Cheri Fuller, www.cherifuller.com

(Note: Although this is not an exhaustive list, it includes some of the most wonderful children’s classics. It will keep you and your grandchildren busy reading marvelous books!)

Preschool:

Madeline--Ludwig Bemelmens

Good Night, Moon—Margaret Wise Brown

Don Freeman--Corduroy

Robert McCloskey—Make Way for Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal

A.A. Milne—When We Were Very Young books

Beatrix Potter—The Tales of Peter Rabbit series

Robert Louis Stevenson—A Child’s Garden of Verses

Lynd Ward—Biggest Bear

Watty Piper—Little Engine that Could, Mother Goose, A Treasury of Rhymes

Elementary:

Florence and Richard Atwater—Mr. Poppers’ Penguins

James M. Barrie—Peter Pan

L. Frank Baum—The Wizard of Oz

Michael Bond—Paddington

Carole Ryrie Brink—Caddie Woodlawn

Frances Hodgson Burnett—The Secret Garden, A Little Princess

Mary Mapes Dodge—Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates

Walter Farley—The Black Stallion series

Esther Forbes—Johnny Tremain

Kenneth Grahame—Wind in the Willows

Norma Green—The Hole in the Dike, retold

Irene Hunt—Across Five Aprils

Rudyard Kipling—Just So Stories, The Jungle Books

Jim Kjelgard—Big Red

Madeline L’Engle—Wrinkle in Time

Robert Lawson—Pilgrim’s Progress adaptation

C.S. Lewis—Chronicles of Narnia series

Carlo Lorenzini—Pinocchio

George MacDonald—The Princess and the Goblin, The Princess and the Curie,

Fairy Tales and Stories for the Childlike

Wilson Rawls—Where the Red Fern Grows

Carl Sandburg—Abe Lincoln Grows Up

Anna Sewell—Black Beauty

Johanna Spyri—Heidi

Robert Louis—A Child’s Garden of Verses, Treasure Island

E. B. White—Charlotte’s Web, The Trumpet of the Swan, Stuart Little

Kate Douglas Wiggin—Rebecca of Sunnbrook Farm

Laura Ingles Wilder—Little House series

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Margery Williams—Velveteen Rabbit

Do you have a story to tell? Is there a book burning a hole in your soul? Are you hoping to write for a magazine? Do you dream of a career in publishing? Whether you’re a professional writer, an editor trying to expand your skills, someone hoping to network with other writers, or a new writer with a story to tell, this conference will help you gain the skills you need to learn the craft and the business of writing and publishing.

Make plans now to attend the first annual "Write Well, Sell Well Conference" in Oklahoma City on Saturday, September 21, 2013. More details and online registration via EventBrite is available on writewellsellwellokc.com. Please download, print and share the conference flyer! (PDF) I'll be presenting and sharing at this conference, which has been a dream of mine and the other author/organizers for many years. I hope you will join us!

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Because many of my readers have asked for me to post the following words to say and not to say to children, I am sharing it again. Blessings to each of you!

Encouraging and Motivating Your Sons and Daughters

10 Encouraging Things to Say That Build Kids Up: Every Child Needs to Hear that:

§ I believe in you.

§ It’s a blessing to be your mom/dad (grandma, aunt)

§ I love you. Then be specific: I love your smile (energy, caring heart, etc.)

§ I noticed…(you got your homework done, or that you have a new friend).

That’s what I call responsibility (kindness, other character quality)

§ Keep up the good work. You’re making progress!

§ If more kids were like you, this world would be a better place.

§ There is a bright future ahead for you.

§ Thanks for what you did…(helping, doing chores, doing homework, etc.)

§ If all the 8 year old girls (or 10, 5, use child’s age) were lined up from all over the world and I could only pick one, I’d pick YOU

§ I admire or am proud of you for …(name a specific quality or trait)

10 Negative Phrases NOT TO SAY Because They Tear Kids Down

§ You’re no good; you’ll never amount to anything.

§ If you don’t stop doing that, I’m going to leave you here (or go home without you).

§ Why can’t you be more like your brother/sister?

§ I can’t stand you.

§ You are so much trouble.

§ I can’t wait until you’re grown up and out of here.

§ Don’t you ever listen? Where are your brains?

§ What’s WRONG with you?

§ You are stupid.

§ You’re giving me a headache (or stressing me out).

I'm happy to announce that my new Tyndale book co-authored with Jennifer Kennedy Dean has just arrived at my house--which means it will be in bookstores soon! The title is: The One Year Praying the Promises of God. We invite you to journey through the Bible with us to discover God's great and precious promises-- and to find the blessing of discovering and praying God's promises every day. Watch the video for a preview of our book.

As 2011 closes, I wanted to share with you a few of the best movies we saw this year, (as we are avid movie-goers and look for the best ones to see), and one of my favorite books. (Favorite movies will be in next blog!)

Between a Rock and a Grace Place: Divine Surprises in the Tight Spots of Life, written by my friend and bestselling author Carol Kent, is a must-read and a great way to start the new year if you haven't already read it. Between her own "rock and a grace place," Carol shares how she and her husband Gene discovered extraordinary mercy, profound personal experiences of God's sustaining grace, and an incomparable peace in the midst of a very difficult, ongoing situation: the life-without-parole sentence her beloved only son Jason (JP) is serving at a maximum security Florida prison.

Rather than spiraling into despair and bitterness, Carol's story describes how she held on to hope and reached out in compassion for others even in the midst of her own pain. One only has to be in Carol's presence to know that Jesus is alive and well. Only HE could give her the very real joy she possesses and exudes.

Though a remarkable woman and gifted speaker, Carol is also quite real and vulnerable and bears her heart in this well-written book. The lessons shared include her experiences and that of other people convey deep truths and will renew your perspective, pointing you to the source of life and grace--Jesus. Another beautiful feature of Between a Rock and a Grace Place are the letters from Jason Kent, her son. Let me encourage you to read this book so that when at some point or perhaps right now you are faced with the uncertainties and trials of life, you can draw upon God's amazing grace as Carol did, and experience His life right between your rock and hard place. Happy New Year and blessings to you!

Digital downloads of Carol's book (for all e-reader sites) are available for $1.99 until January 2nd by clicking on:  http://www.amazon.com/Between-Rock-Gr...

When I wrote my first book, I didn’t know the first thing about marketing. But I did have one strategy I learned along the way that really helped get the word out about my books and keep them in print longer: writing chapters and content that could be easily be adapted to magazine articles.

There were many benefits of this kind of marketing: One was making extra income in the “chicken today-feathers tomorrow” life of a writer. In addition, the articles I wrote for Family Circle, Guideposts, Better Homes and Gardens (all still in business), and other magazines promoted the book that I’d adapted the content from and the author bio promoted my other books. In some cases, those articles led to being on a major radio shows like “NBC News” and “Focus on the Family.” The content was used in textbooks (good pay), church newsletters, MOPS publications, etc. And several times publishers called me and said, “We were just looking for an author to write a book on this topic and read your article in so-and-so magazine. Could you expand it for us?”

As I continued freelancing alongside my book career, magazine editors often called me for feature articles on my latest book or a previous one. I asked for (and got) full-color photos of the extended the shelf-life of my books and created new audiences for my work.

Now, I know that many Christian magazines have folded—but don’t tune out yet! There are still a few good markets for established writers. No, it’s not like it was in the late 80’s and 90’s where Christian publications abounded and editors called us. But make a trip to Barnes & Noble or a local bookstore and visit the magazine rack. You’ll find more magazines that relate to family, mothering, and a host of other topics than we ever imagined a decade ago—and the content you’ve already written in your books may hit the target audience that buys them.

The Internet offers lots of opportunities to promote your books. Take the same principles I’ve shared above and adapt it to offering content to websites and blogsites. Think also about the possibilities of how you can recycle your material on the Internet. For example, a column I wrote on my website (www.cherifuller.com) for a few years grew into an award-winning book for moms after it caught the attention of a book publisher. I’ve written articles and content for my own e-newsletters, Christian-Mommies.com, Family.org, websites for stay-at-home and homeschooling moms, New York parenting websites that led to live national web-chats, selling a bundle of my books on the featured topic.

In a future blog, I’ll share some keys to writing for those secular publications and the Internet plus how to shape your chapters into compelling short articles, sidebars, and marketable pieces. I look forward to gaining some of your great marketing ideas as well. Happy writing, friends!

Reflections from Ali on Mother-Daughter Duet Broadcasts and Living Life with Courage


“At the heart of each of us, whatever our imperfections, there exists a silent pulse of perfect rhythm, which is absolutely individual and unique, and yet which connects us to everything else.”
--George Leonard

Mom and I saw an amazing documentary together on Mother's day called "Ahead of Time" about the life of Ruth Gruber. I reflected on our relational progression. from angst-y adolescence to addiction to allying for the Messages Project recently- when we find a way to live from the heart (whatever our imperfections as Leonard describes), stop waiting for life to conform to our needs and wants, then we are focusing on the beautiful PROGRESSION of things and less wrapped up in perfection. As I've heard many times- It's about progress not perfection. Ah, sigh. relief.
I hope the journey my mom and i share will give you hope. As she and I focus more on overcoming our personal fears, helping others, and seeing our differences as strength rather than weakness (along with simply having more fun) we have found joy, true joy. The joy that literally gives strength. 
The joy that doesn't require the other to change or adhere to our demands, but freely says, "I love the heart of you, I'm amazed by the silent pulse of perfect rhythm that exists in you- individual and unique, which connects us."-addendum: I'm amazed even when i don't understand.
Live courageously, let go courageously. In the letting go and living the pulse of our unique rhythm- connection grows into something bigger than pain or fear or misunderstanding- empowered we can as women face challenges we thought impossible, overcome fears we thought paralyzing, and help others find their heart's own unique rhythm.

May 12-13, Thursday and Friday Broadcasts on Mother-Daughter Relationships

Today and tomorrow daughter Ali and I are featured on two broadcasts on Familylifetoday.com (and on their radio program heard around the country). As we share our story, we're transparent and honest, even about the painful parts of our family's story. Here's the information:

May 12-13, 2011
Releasing Your Daughter to God's Care

Guest: Cheri Fuller and Ali Plum
Series: The Mother-Daughter Duet

Do you and your daughter find yourself at odds more times than not? You're not alone. Mother daughter duo Cheri Fuller and Ali Plum talk about what they've done to smooth out the wrinkles in their sometimes bumpy relationship.

Yesterday our Lunch Bunch--Corrie, Cynthia, Susan, and I--met at Joey's Cafe to eat salads and pasta and talk about everything from our grandkids to hormones, best movies we've seen or books we've read, our travel, doctors, and families. We also have a few laughs. We met years ago and have been celebrating our birthdays together with lunch out at a favorite place. The birthday girl receives gifts and is treated to lunch by the other three friends--and often a single candle-topped dessert is ordered that we all share.

Though our initial connection was being in the same church, now we're scattered in different ones. Yet we've been there for each other over the years--giving wedding showers when our kids were getting married, praying when four of our sons were deployed in the Middle East, bringing food and flowers when one of us has lost a beloved family member, or when we've gone through a few of our own health crises.

These girlfriends and other dear ones near and far--Ann, Mary, Patty J., Peggy, Janet, Sheron, my three tennis buddies Debbie, Laura, and Patty D, my sister-friends Marilyn, Georgia and Diana, Colorado friends Lindsay and Becky--definitely make my life happier. And now research is showing how vital connections with friends are to our health:

*That during tough times women bond, and when they're together it lowers blood pressure, stress level, and heart rate

*That close connections with friends has a positive effect on our immune system which helps us fight off illness; and if surgery or serious illness happens, women with close friends heal and recover faster

*That the more good friends women have the less likely they were to be depressed or develop physical impairments as they aged

*And most of all, the research shows that connecting regularly with friends leads to experiencing a joyful life.

Make time for connecting with your girlfriends and you'll see the benefits, I can assure you!

Monday, June 21

As you know, this is the first official day of summer, although it's definitely been hot summer weather for days here in Oklahoma!

As I started the day on our sun porch, looking out at the cardinals and the tall green oak trees waving in the already warm wind, I read The

Daily Light and The One Year Bible, and was quiet for a few minutes and talked to God some while drinking my coffee, which is what I like to do before the crush of the day or phone rushes in. But all of a sudden some interior distractions interrupted my quiet place--and my list of To-Do's for the day and the week took my mind in a whole different direction, as I . I got some paper and began to list these "must do" jobs or activities.

Then I noticed a page I'd printed by the nuns at All Saints Convent in Maryland, entitled "the Nuns' Twenty-Third Psalm.

It certainly blessed me and slowed me down as I pondered it and I hope it encourages you as well. This is a very good prayer for us all:

The Lord is my pace-setter, I shall not rush.

He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals,

He provides me with images of stillness, which restore my serenity.

He leads me in ways of efficiency through calmness of mind.

And His guidance is peace.

Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day,

I will not fret, for His presence is here.

His timelessness, his all-importance will keep me in the balance.

He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity

By anointing my mind with His oils of tranquillity.

My cup of joyous energy overflows.

Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruit of my hours, for

I shall walk in the place of my Lord and dwell in His House forever.