What Has Happened This Month/Year? What Do I Hope to Accomplish in 2026?

This month has been so much fun minus some health issues. I was supposed to go to an event but that did not happen. It is important that health comes first.

So, this month, I focused on looking over the draft illustrations for an upcoming book about bullying. Book 13 is in motion with the illustrator providing the draft for myself and another author to look over. We are both in the process of checking over the illustrations.

In addition, I have been busy with at the beginning of the month with a group where I did an online book sale and pre-recorded video for the event.

Book Sale: My Page- in December. Our group “Children’s Authors Unite” recently did a book sale and the group will do two-three sales and interviews next year in 2026.

http://childrensauthorsunite.com/childrens-authors-unite...

Interview: Pre-Recorded:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/864862409426840

Then, I had an interview with Judy Watters about memoirs on three books that I have published, “Did You Come Home for Lunch?” “Living on a Military Base”, and “Brains over Brawn”. Here is the recorded interview at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyw3pqfBRYI

Next, I did an interview with Okie Bookcast where both myself and Eileen Hobbs , both Oklahoma Authors, on December 9, 2025 . This is Chapter 78 Season 5 Episode 5.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1845017/episodes/18313122?fbclid=IwY2xjawOz525leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEelnWjW1OAeaHgcJTyyl4pIRmeXlaozn53P8-fYciLI31V7oU-yEW4ibyX1s0_aem_lq83Tq6Ghpcpp7AKgEqyLw- 

Audio:

https://www.okiebookcast.com/episodes

Finally, I was glad to receive an invitation for an upcoming interview online with William Bernhardt coming up to be recorded on February 1^st, 2026, with William Bernhardt who is an author of 60 + Books and host of Writer Con in Oklahoma City, OK.

(https://williambernhardt.com/)

This is a wrap-up of my successful year in 2025:

•  Oklahoma Book Bus Lead Volunteer Book Events at Elementary Schools

• Guest Speaker for Christian Writers Group

• Participated in Read- A -Thon Online

• Attended Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc Conference

• Set up booth and donated 121 books to military dependents at OKC Zoo for Month of the Military Child event

• Attended multiple Friday Nights in the Park from May to September

• Attended Homeschool Conference with booth and taught a session

• Author Event Bookstore Barnes and Noble Quail Springs

• Author Event at Full Circle Bookstore-OKC

• Author Event Bookish Bookstore-OKC

• Author Event Tinker Base Exchange in Midwest City, OK

• Read at Commonplace Books in Oklahoma City, OK

• Read to Daycare - Broadway Kids Moore, OK

• Read to Kids R’Us in Tecumseh, OK

• Read at Knights Nook in Yukon, OK

• Interview podcast by Edith from Austria on “Book Lovers Companion” Blog 

https://book-lovers-companion.com/journey-into-the-world-of-childrens-literature-with-mark-mccraw/

•  Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc9wAAGfhbE

•  Interview podcast by “Called2Serve Podcast with Reggie Hubbard” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDdz4Rvh-gk

•  Interview  podcast by  “Journey in Boots with Dorothy O’ Dell”  from Canada  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShwLECGZ_Ec  

• Interview podcast by “Quixotic Podcast with Author and Publisher Amy Le”  https://youtu.be/-_O0qLwYrSU?si=leAKWbOnhiklGPUj

•  Interview podcast by “Mandy Squires from Creative Slingers of Ink” https://youtu.be/5E9qVidGDKU

•  Interview podcast by “Tikiman and the Viking Episode 44.2” https://youtu.be/Kaj0tfiSefY?si=DxxPTtVhI8wB7sEo

•  Interview podcast by “The Phil Young Show”

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9lsctX91uc

• Interview by J. Hall from “Okie Podcast https://www.okiebookcast.com/episodes

• Interview by Judy Watters on “Sheer Memoirs” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyw3pqfBRYI

•  Interview with “ Kim Talks Podcast – The Great Pickle Caper- Behind the Book “ - Nicoli Picoli https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69dJZmnDi9Q

• Joined online Facebook group  weekly podcasts- called,  “Children’s  Book Authors UNITE “   with Francine Juhlin   https://www.facebook.com/groups/1040974811354742                         

•  Pre-recorded video for December 7^th Children’s  Book Authors Unite: At 51.33 minutes- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7LdeP5llqM

• Collaborated with a narrator to do audio file for a book

• Read to Kindergarten classes at Jones Elementary in Jones, OK

• Dressed up like a composition Notebook for Author Event

• Donated two times to a vending machine at Jones Elementary through Kiwanis

• Published Book 12- Anna’s Amazing Alaskan Adventure

• Recorded on Indie Read Aloud with Diana Kathryn Penn for Anna’s Amazing Alaskan Adventure

• Published in International Children’s Kidlio  Online Magazine- May 5^th Anniversary Edition  (https://kidliomag.com/kidliomag-5th-anniversary-edition/)

• Participated in writing contest for Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc.

• Attended Author Fair at Metropolitan Library- Belle Isle Library

• Joined Kiwanis which is all about children and community

• Published on the National American Legion Website- Children’s Author and Boy’s State Recruiter Article November 2025

• Published on new website domain on Wix

What are my goals for 2026?

1.  Publish 1-2 Audibles

2. Participate in Interviews

3. Publish 1-2 books

4. Attend OWFI Conference

5. Attend Events

6. Create 1-3 e-books

In Appreciation:

•  I thank God for allowing me with the blessings, the heart, and giving me the ability to write children’s books.

• I thank my family for allowing me to be a part of a journey to increase literacy, increase learning, and increase legacy.

• I thank my publishers Archway Publishing (1^st book )  and Palmetto Publishing (2 books) for believing in me.

• I thank my supporters for allowing me to make a difference in the lives of children.

• I thank the podcast interviewers for allowing me to be part of some great interviews with them.

• I thank my event coordinators and bookstores for allowing me to attend some momentous events to include reading to children.

• I thank the schools and daycares for allowing me to do author visits.

• I thank the Kidlio Magazine publisher for allowing me to be in an International Kids Magazine-Kidlio May 2025 -5^th Anniversary Edition-.

• I thank my great editors, formatters, illustrators, and narrators for their great work.

• I thank the American Legion HQ Media for allowing me to be published on their website during November 2025.

• I thank Dianna Kathryn Penn for maintaining my website monthly and being a great mentor.

• I thank Dianna Kathryn Penn for interviewing me for Indie Read Aloud.

• I thank Diana Kathryn Penn for allowing me to be part of the Pages Promotions Community Service anthologies.

I want to wish everyone the most blessed holiday break and a Happy New Year! May you be blessed in 2026.

Stay tuned for wonderful things to happen in 2026!

Note: Remember, follow my journey, and write reviews on Amazon, which are most helpful.