The excitement of getting the second draft of my cover design from my talented illustrator, Peggy Collins, filled me with smiles. My new book, The Peanut Butter Birthday Party became more real and exciting. Joyous to see my Peanut Butter Kid, Elmer on the cover with his dog, Pappy. Publishing a book resembles giving birth. The seed has been planted and my new baby begins to grow. Like every mom-to-be I can't wait for you to view my child.

A  day in the office. Starting to write media releases for The Peanut Butter Birthday Party. Thinking about and setting up launch parties. This is an exciting and very busy time. The birth of a new book.

Thinking about peanut butter and how it's being used in Third World countries because it's so nutritious. Thinking about how much I love eating it because it's so delicious. How good to be involved with Peanut Butter.

Somehow my newer links do not appear if you came on my blog from my LinkedIn post.

A year has passed since that entry appeared. A year of change. A year of coping. And now I have to move forward and think about my new book, The Peanut Butter Birthday Party which will be published this fall and will be coming out at The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival - on the panel of "Missouri's On".  If you're in St. Louis be sure to get tickets. The panel will be on the stage of the JCCA at 10:30 AM on November 6. Hope to see you there. More info later.

Please share your peanut butter memories and recipes with me on my blog, Facebook (Cynthia Kagan Frohlichstein) or on LinkedIN.

After a weekend smothered in feelings and memories, I now have to incorporate all of this love into my work. I have to think about the joys of getting my new book, The Peanut Butter Birthday Party ready for publication this fall. 

It's off to a good start. The book has been chosen to be a part of 'Missouri's Own" panel at the 2014 Jewish Book Festival.  I feel very honored.

Tonight is a night of transition for me. A time to think rather than write. But I will be letting you know more about the book and all it stands for in future postings.

Laughter is indeed the best medicine. Do you have any peanut butter stories to share? I would love to hear them.

Do you have a 'Peanut Butter Kid' like Elmer Kay in your family? Maybe, you are a Peanut Butter Kid, too.

I look back on  my last post. As I realize that it is exactly 1 year ago today that we all lost our amazing Harvey. If he were here with me, he'd be cheering on the upcoming publication of my new book, "The Peanut Butter Birthday Party". He was my best fan. He was my advocate. I still feel him backing me up in everything I do. I feel his support.

It's a new era for The Peanut Butter Kid. He's having a birthday party - a very special party and he is planning it with his parents and close friends. My new book "The Peanut Butter Birthday Party" will be out this fall. Read about Elmer's surprise. Learn how his birthday party becomes a way to "give back". How do you give back. Please share .

Death and Birth

How much my life has changed since I last posted on this blog. I was looking forward to spending "Happy Hour" with my husband Harvey, daughter Betty and friends. And now Harvey is gone.

Life is not the same. I look the same. I walk the same. I talk the same. But I am not the same. It has been seven months since he passed away and still every day reveals a new side of grief.

Death. It is a different world when you lose your spouse - your best friend. So many stages of grief. There is such a strong longing to share with others who are coping with a similar loss. What are your stages? Do you want to share?

And yet there is a new Birth in my life. My new children's book, The Peanut Butter Birthday Party is in the stages of being born next summer. A different kind of book than my comical book, The Perils of the Peanut Butter Kid. A more serious story that will help raise money for "Kids Rock Cancer" and hopefully for other non-profits. Some parts of life do some how go on.

Death and Birth. They are coming together. Both seem to epitomize this journey of life.