Carol Andrews Enterprises

Gearing up for the end of the school year and a summer of fun! I am hoping to share Speckled Angels with as many people as possible.  This week, we’ve already been out on 2 signings with a 3rd scheduled tomorrow.  It is so humbling to be received so kindly.  Thank you.  I am thinking of revamping this page to show you some of the other things we have going on.  Stay tuned!

Some things to watch for: Party on the Plank, Thursdays in High Point http://www.partyontheplank.com/ and Fridays at the Wet Whistle in Archdale  http://www.thewetwhistleco.com/.  Both may be off your beaten path, but well worth the journey.

2009 has been such a growth year for me and my family.  I am filled with gratitude and looking forward to continuing that pattern of growth in the New Year. 

Speckled Angels made its way under countless Christmas trees this year and we’ve added it to Amazon.com.  During the year I’ve been able to spend time in schools and churches talking about how and why kindness counts. Thank you all so much for your support.   If you haven’t been a part, please contact us and join in the fun.  Let’s see Speckled Angels in all 50 states, this year.

What started out as a short stint at WFMY News 2 is now in its second year!  What a gift and it is so much fun to be able to reconnect with viewers.  I think on this time last year and how anxious I was having moved some 4 times in 2 years.  I feel so blessed to be sitting here calmly and writing, living in new levels of faith and trust.  I wish for all of you new phases of gratitude and love in the new year.

I have met some amazing people this year, including a man who walked across the Sahara Desert www.charlieengle.com and a woman who lost her legs and now inspires any and everyone around her and a couple who travels the world collecting video  www.vitadigitalproductions.com.  All  have expanded my dreams and I hope when you check out their sites they will expand yours. 

The other part is continued volunteerism.  No matter what you have there is always someone with less.  I spent a lot of time helping others only to find they were saving my life.  Join me in following passions and helping others this year.  Happy New Year, everyone and remember to always Dream Big!

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If you are out and about this morning join me and some of my author friends at Barnes and Noble Booksellers in High Point from 10-noon.  I’ll have my Speckled Angels. Think books for Christmas.  Have a happy day!

When you are used to doing the interviewing, it can be a little disconcerting to be on the other side of the microphone.  Unless your interviewer is the awesome Sheriff of Guilford County, NC.  (And yes I am admittedly biased.) 

Sheriff BJ Barnes does a weekly show for Cable Access, Channel 8 called: Guilford Sheriff 9-1-1.  However, don’t let the name fool you.  It is anything but a “Cops” style show.  This sheriff looks for the positives in his community to profile and no surprise that this top cop knows how to conduct an interview.

He invited me in to talk about Speckled Angels and the work we are doing to combat bullying in our schools.  I came with my number one PR guy (my son Nicholas) in tow.  As a wonderful champion of children, Barnes graciously invited Nicholas to sit in.  Once we finished our conversation, the sheriff interviewed my son.

What a time of trepidation and pride because who really knows what will come out of a 9 year old’s mouth.  I am overjoyed and relieved to tell you that he did well in this taping. 

We were finished and as only a child of a journalist can do…he said:

“Well, I do have one more thing to say.”  My heart fell a little.  What he wanted to say is that he has more things published than his mom.  He has created 8 comic strips to my mere two books.  We had a great laugh and were able to end the show with a smile and another bit of hope for the future which seems to be a trademark for this sheriff.

I have said often that I have never seen a man work so hard to keep people out of his jail.  To have my son meet that calibur of humanity made it an all around great day!

Our segment is set to air in early August.  I will keep you up to date, but please check out some of the sheriff’s other insightful interviews at http://www.guilfordcountysheriff.com/ Just click on Sheriff’s Beat in the left hand column.

Wow, have we been sharing and having fun with Speckled Angels!  I wish I could see all of your faces as you read it.  Today, I read it to three different audiences at the Coddington Elementary School in Wilmington.  My son was with me and that made it extra special.  So did the fact that I’ve gotten to reconnect with one of my former tv producers: Connie Wishon Johnson, now an awesome 4th grade teacher. 

After the readings, Nicholas and I took a ferry ride from Southport to Fort Fisher, fed the gulls and rocked in the sea breeze. We also got to visit the Fort Fisher Aquarium and see an albino alligator. 

It always amazes me how vast our world is.  But the reaction of a child is universal.  Enthusiasm and awe at all things new and different.  The honesty of children propels me to keep writing and to keep spreading the message of kindness.

We also got to make a stop at Pomegranate Books.  If you are in Wilmington and missed us, please stop in and get your copy of Speckled Angels!

c

It’s been a while since I’ve been still enough to write.  I’ve missed this, there is something therapeutic about writing.  It  took a few days at the beach to remind me.  Sitting out and looking over the vastness and waiting for special gifts from the sea reminds me of how much I have to be thankful for. 

I didn’t see the dolphins this time, but I marvelled at the precision of seagulls in search of food.  I came back and planted things,  watched the rain send them on their way to beautiful plants and flowers and internally felt my own sense of Spring renewal.

I’ve been speaking and signing books between Durham and the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina and I am always moved by the beauty of this state and it’s people.  In Durham I was a guest of Radio station WRJD-AM, Rejoice 1410 am.  http://www.1410wrjd.com/

It was relationship Friday and I got the awesome opportunity to talk about the one relationship that sees me through all others: My relationship with God.  . It was a night of ministry music and literature that was just what the doctor ordered.  Of course, we were in a coffee shop. Thanks Linda Greenwood for the invitation and to all those who recieved both me and my Speckled Angels so well.

I also have to thank Becky C. over a Barnes And Noble Booksellers.  What a great support of local authors you are.  We’ve  had two wonderful signings with you since the release.

I’ve spent a lot of time in Rockingham County, NC in schools and making new friends.  I even got a front cover spread in the Sunday paper.  I’ll be adding pictures soon to share. For now check out this link at Dillard Elementary School.  http://www.rock.k12.nc.us/dlrd/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=282726

I hope you’ll add Speckled Angels to the summer reading list for your young reader. We will be sharing Derrick’s story in Wilmington, next month.  Details to come. 

Also, check me out on Twitter.  www.twitter.com/carolandrewsnc We will bring you positives every chance we get.

c

  I never thought signing on to something like Facebook would reconnect me to so many friends and colleagues so quickly.  But it has and I could spend years on the phone following through on all the contacts. 

It really is exciting and the prospect brings me back to something my mom always taught us.  Networking is a key to success.  If one of my facebook friends told one of his/her facebook friends and so on we could end a recession without government intervention.  How cool would that be? So I want to get the ball rolling. 

Tonight, I was excited to learn my friend Ingrid Johansen is starting her own business, connecting tv talent to the right tv job.   Check out her site: www.yourtalentrep.com if you are making a change and in return I would like to know about someone else in business.  If we tell enough people about each other…wow! 

I’ll visit each site you tell me about and let’s just see where it leads.  Not a novel concept but one I’d like to try in this venue. 

c

The Inauguration of a new president is always something special.  I don’t ever remember seeing this kind of magic, though.  I pray for this president and our country that we become an even better nation.  (I think we are already pretty awesome.) I also pray for our former president as he returns to civilian life. 

The big question is: now what?  For me it is to become my own economic stimulus and share Speckled Angels with as many people as possible.  We have had some incredible book signings and the more people I meet the more I want to meet. 

We all have a role in stimulating the economy:  Help those in need, use your God-given talent to sustain yourself and your family and trust that as cyclical as the world is, it’s just a matter of time before we take that upward swing again.

For those of you who have read Speckled Angels, drop me a note. I’d love to hear what you think.

c

All dictionaries that I read agree that accountability is the “act of being accountable” (Merriam-WebsterOnline).  It is a word that is ringing in my ears.  We started exercising last night as part of the Proehlific Loser Contest.  It was grueling and boy am I out of shape, but I saw the same look in so many sets of eyes.  It seemed to say: “I can’t quit because you are depending on me!”

It’s nice to be accountable because I can’t quit, in any aspect of my life.  It’s even more cool because I don’t want to. I’m no expert but I feel that if there is anything worth doing, it’s worth holding yourself and allowing others to hold you accountable. 

Have a great day.

  With just over a half hour to go in 2008, I don’t know what to say.  Let’s see what happens when I just let my fingers move.  “Wow” works but even that is inadequate.  We’ve moved twice (both unexpected but blessings at the time). New book release that is going well. Please don’t stop talking about Speckled Angels. Went back to work in TV.  New friends and now I’m connected to Facebook reconnecting with so many people.  My son is doing well in the 4th grade and growing into his own wonderful human.  Spent good time all year with the people who mean most.  I’m growing in faith and spirit and couldn’t be more grateful.  2008 is the year I found myself again.  I can’t wait to see what 2009 has in store. 

Happy New Year, everyone and thanks for being there for my family.