Beyond Mere Thoughts

Since I now have two books about bullying in schools, I’m thinking about developing a program to present to educators.

Written and Illustrated by Karen Dean

If you had a published book, what would you be willing to do to promote it? Would you be too timid and fearful to let others know what you had done? Getting a book published is quite an accomplishment. Hopefully, you’d be bold enough to shout it from the rooftops or anywhere else you could get an audience. After all, stashing the books in a closet wouldn’t get your message out or your books sold.

Recently, I spoke at a service club luncheon. I talked about how my journey to develop books and fine art is uniquely my story. No one else has lived it quite the same way. In September, I autographed books at the East Texas Book Fest. What a great venue to be seen by so many book lovers in one day!

Recently, my newest book, Big Shot, arrived on my front porch. This is my second story about bullying in schools. The first, She Said WHAT About ME? focuses on the devastating effects of hurtful words that girls can say to or about others. Big Shot, about a boy bully, depicts various mean situations like intimidation, shoving, stealing, and causing fear in others. The bully is a control freak, thinking he is the biggest of big shots. Everything is going just fine until one day he moves away. At the new school, he is no longer the bully; he has become the victim.

I have a message to deliver to both children and adults about the harmful effects of bullying. This message can be effective in multiple audiences because it’s informative and motivating and inspires others to use the gifts they’ve been given.

Written and Illustrated by Karen Dean

Since I now have two books about bullying in schools, I’m thinking about developing a program to present to educators. Not only will it include what its like to be an author and illustrator, but it will also include the troubling bully issue. There’s a lot of possibility here, but it will take a lot of preparation. Several years ago, I did similar presentations at schools but without the bullying topic. This changes everything.

It’s important to constantly be on the lookout for that which will enable what you do to be current and relevant. Besides, it keeps the creativity exciting and alive. I don’t fully know how this will work out, but I do know it’s necessary to get the books to the children, doing my small part to help alleviate the harmful effects of bullying.

What is the message you want to deliver? Who do you want to reach? What are you willing to do to make it happen? How will you get your mere thoughts to others?

Stop by next month for a few more writing or painting tips.

In addition to being a published author and illustrator of children’s books, Karen is also an accomplished artist in oil and watercolor, painting architectural landscapes, seascapes, still life, and Classical Realism portraits.

Visit her website to view the gallery.