It is 4:17 am as my day begins in Rancho Mirage, California. I love my alone time. The only sound I hear is the tapping of my fingers on my keyboard and one lone bird chirping outside my window as if to say, “Good morning, Honey.”

I am in solidarity with the early morning because of its stillness. It’s just me and my thoughts. To be perfectly honest with you, it is my time to reflect on all things big and small.

The Release of Stories for my Grandchild

This early morning, I am thinking about my book/journal, Stories for my Grandchild. As you know, it will be released on Amazon and elsewhere on February 5, although you can purchase it via pre-order now here.

I always refer to the book/journal as “our book.” It is yours and mine because I wrote all of the prompts and you will write all of the answers. When I think about the project of writing Stories for my Grandchild, I think about ‘us’ as co-authors, and I am over the top elated that I have the opportunity to give back. Giving is one of a grandmother’s best traits.

Stories for my Grandchild will give you the same pleasure because you will take your pen in hand and write your story, your life lessons, your values, and your message to your grands.

It is hardcover so it will last forever… as will your life story as it is passed down from generation to generation. It is a keepsake treasure, and I am very proud to have been chosen by Abrams Books to be its author.

Below you may read the history of my adventure into the wonderful world of writing this first book, but before you do, I want to share with you a bit of the introduction I penned for grandmothers around the world.

The Intro

“dear friends,

I DON’T KNOW YOUR NAMES, BUT I DO KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

YOU ARE GRANDMA, GIGI, NONNA, YAYA, MIMI, ABUELITA, GEEMA, BUBBE, MEME,

OR IN MY CASE, HONEY.

You are a giver of kisses, a provider of treats, and a source of unconditional love and solace. You are a grandmother, and your grandchildren know exactly what to call you. But do they know who you are?

I have always said that the greatest gift we leave our grandchildren are the lessons we share, the adventures we catalog, and the love we shower. It is my heartfelt pleasure to present you with this journal to record your own treasured stories, family history, and personal vignettes.”

-Honey Good

Would you like to win one of five copies of Stories for my Grandchild? Register to win here.

Contest ends at midnight on 2/5/19. See landing page for contest details. 

 

“The greatest gifts you leave your grandchildren is what you leave them in their heads”  Susan “Honey” Good

 

I am thrilled to announce my first book, Stories for my Grandchild, is now on sale on Amazon. This hard covered book, darlings, is about you! Not about me. And, that is the reason I am so happy, because ‘to give is far better than to receive.’

The book is a keepsake journal of your life, your values, your family history and your wisdom and dreams for your Grands that you will pen in your own words and gift to your Grands as a ‘keeper,’ a lifetime heirloom.

As the author, I wrote this book and developed the prompts for you to answer. Abrams Books was looking for a 21st Century Grandmother to be their author. I was so fortunate they chose me and was thrilled and elated that this project appealed to me. I was selected to be the grandmother who produced the prompts you would answer to record your family history, including your life story, your values, and wisdom, and love in your written words. It is a forever keepsake for your Grands. The project touched my heart.

I envisioned myself with pen in hand writing my history, my values and my dreams for my Grands and I was eager and enthusiastic about the challenge.

THE CHALLENGE

Writing one’s thoughts is challenging, and this journal proved to be very challenging because every grandmother follows her own personal life path.

Today’s 21st Century grandmother chooses her title. She may pick, Abuelita or Bubbie or Grandma or Honey. Some grandmothers travel the world, and others go near and far by watching National Geographic on their television screen, or they read books on the history and cultures of places around the world, that pique their fancies. Still other grandmothers have blended families, some live with their grandchildren, and others live far away from family. Many grandmothers live on farms, some live in cities. Grandmothers are a melting pot of nationalities and religions. My prompts had to be written for every type of grandmother. This was my challenge!

THE COMMON THREAD IN STORIES FOR MY GRANDCHILD

The one commonality all grandmothers share is the love for their Grands, and that is the thread I used throughout the journal. I always thought about what a grandchild would want to know about their loving grandmother. Sharing stories from your past gives your grandchildren a sense of identity, a connection to their heritage and a deep relationship with you. I focused on this message. I wanted you to be able to leave — in your words — a book your grandchildren would press to their heart and think, “This is my grandmother. She is part of me.”

THE ART AND THE FONT

I had the desire to be able to express my thoughts to the editor, Karrie, about the artwork and the font. She wanted my thoughts and said they were welcome. I knew I did not want a frilly font. What I did want was for the font to be visually bold and robust, acknowledging the strength and courage of grandmothers.

For the artwork, I wanted florals because flowers resemble grandmothers; soft, sweet smelling women with beautiful ‘natures’ who bloom outward with love. I began my search. I hunted for a drawing of the first flower found by man (over 4 million years old!) because grandmothers are filled with wisdom. When I found the flower, it was beautiful, and the artist’s renderings bring that symbol to life on the cover of OUR book.

THE DREAM TEAM

From beginning to end, this project was a dream come true. In my mind, it was a flawless experience. Karrie’s and my temperament were the perfect blend. We signed our emails, warmly, and when we finally met in New York, we were already friends.

Susan Berman Hammer, who has been by my side since I began my musings, was my right hand. She helped me with my contract with Abrams, she read and reread my prompts and quotes and introduction. She is a ‘T’ crosser and an ‘I’ dotter! If anyone at Honey Good wants something researched or scrutinized, we all go to Susan. She was invaluable not only to me but also to Karrie. We were a blended team of three: author, editor and T crosser!

I hope you will love and enjoy becoming an author, too, darlings! Please, pre-order your book, “Stories for my Grandchild,” on Amazon today. I promise you, it is a gift for you and a lifelong gift for your Grands. I am thrilled because this gift is not at all about me. It is all about you!

What lessons and values do you most want to leave to your Grands? Please share your thoughts with me via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or in the comments section below.

Purchase Stories for my Grandchild  on Amazon now.

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