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.

Another lovely Friday night Happy Hour with people I love. Harv, Betty, Marisol, Bill and Vivian. Happy is the people you're spending your hours with - happy isn't what you're having to drink.

If you read my facebook sayings today you caught my first posted photo of my dog. He loved sleeping on my husband's head. This photo was taken when he was a little pup.

Now - just think - he's grown-up enough to be my title character, "The Peanut Butter Dog" in my upcoming book. Finally, we're getting much closer to publication and lots of unexpected tricks.

We've always given our dogs their pills rolled up in spoonfuls of PNB. It has never failed to work. Try it, your dog will like it

I already know my characters from "The Perils of the Peanut Butter Kid" but now I am getting to know them through the eyes and mind of their family dog.

Funny things happen. Of course, they all seem so much bigger to me.

Do you other writers feel the same about the grown-ups who people your books?

Perils of the Peanut Butter Dog & Press Club at The Gatesworth

Another crispy cold day in St. Louis. A good day to get some writing done. Plan to work on paging my book, "The Perils of the Peanut Butter Dog and deciding where to place my illustrations. In my previous book, "Perils of the Peanut Butter Kid" my designer did this for me. So it's an exciting adventure to learn how to do something new.

I believe I will be publishing through Amazon's Create Space and hope the book will be out in 3-4 months. It is a sequel to Peanut Butter Kid. Same family. Same big peanut butter jar. But now Pappy the dog is the main character.

I'll keep you up-to-date.

I am having so much fun working with The Gatesworth's amazing Kathy Davis. Planning monthly programs featuring members of The Press Club of
Metropolitan St. Louis.

Claire Applewhite, a local mystery writer spoke at our first program. I predict a starry future for Claire. She has written 6 books that scream out to become a TV series. She writes music, too, Sorry if you missed her.

Next month, on Thursday evening, February 21 we will be celebrating Black History Month. Barbara Washington from Matthews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club will lead the program. Mark your calendar. More about this program later. ALL

I feel the flu coming on.

Like all of you I don't have time for it. My husband is trying to adjust to the loss of his roommate and friend. Sometimes you just can't be sick.

Hopefully a good night's sleep will perform it's miracles.

We are all trying to adjust to the sudden death of our friend. He has been my husband's roommate for 11 months at Extended Care.

Though the unexpected aspect is so difficult for those of us left behind, we are grateful for the ease with which he passed between worlds. He didn't suffer. He never lost the quality of his life. May all of us be so lucky as to take a nap and just not awaken.

Death can often be so brutal. His death left him with the dignity he displayed throughout his life. And that in itself is beautiful.

A Friend Dies

Just like that. He was gone. Two nights ago we all listened to music together and smiled. Then suddenly a virus appeared. A deadly virus that put him to sleep and now he is gone.

All of us were a family with partners in extended care. We knew that life was tenuous but we expected more of a warning. Of all the people there, he was the last you'd pick to die. The virus attacked and just like that he was no longer alive.

He was such a gentle man. We will all miss his elegance. His presence. His wife's presence. She is gone, too. No longer having to be there to care for him. Our chosen family just got smaller. What do we do?

Harvey was here

I love the days when Harvey visits from extended care. It's our new kind of dating. Holding hands. Watching TV. Talking about life. Petting the dog. Even now life can be so satisfying.

Peanut Butter and Getting Old are both Inspiring

Happy New Year to all you peanut butter lovers from infants to those of you enjoying the 100s. Peanut Butter always is a treat.

A new year. A new time. A time for me to keep creating. Hopefully my second children's book, The Perils of the Peanut Butter Dog will start barking its way off the bookshelves. But first? Have to get the book in print.

But so much more than print to share with all of you. So many headings in my life.

How about 37-year survival from breast cancer? I thank G-d that I am so lucky.

How about a wonderful husband now in extended care who manages to keep a beautiful smile on his face? His Parkinsons attitude keeps those of us around him filled with hope.

How about being surrounded by a board of brilliant, talented people at St. Louis  Press Club? People who care about Enterprize journalism. People who want you to know both sides of every story.Yes. There are djournalists out there who feel we need the whole story before we draw conclusions.

How about the joy of being surroundd by inspiring seniors at St. Louis' Gatesworth. So many stories to share. Upliftig people who continue to thrive intellectually and emotionally even as the years tick by

.So much to blog about.,What's your cancer story? How yjoung is old age making you? What are your special accomplishments? Share with me as I share with you.

Keep watching for my little Peanut Butter Dog called Pappy. Share his lust for the gooey, tasty stuff.

Lets take a ride through the future together.

Happy New Years. Many happy New Years.

Peanut Butter, getting older and caretaking

www.perilsofpeanutbutterkid.com

I've been away from my blog way too long.

Let's talk about the ways peanut butter enhances our lives. The wonderful way a smile appears on your face as you lick the spoon.

Lets talk about how your dog feels about peanut butter.

Let's talk about the good & bad stuff of getting older.

Lets talk about being a caregiver.

Lets talk about publishing

Lets talk

Looking for my book?

So many of you who used to buy your books at Borders keep asking me where you can find copies of "The Perils
of the Peanut Butter Kid". The easiest and most economical way to purchase more copies is on my website: www.perilsofthepeanutbutterkid.com

One of the wonderful things about children's books is they never become dated. I thank all of my loyal peanut butter readers.

I have a new book finished, "The Perils of the Peanut Butter Dog". I am looking for the right publisher. If that's you or someone you know, please contact me on my blog or e-mail: perilsofthepeanutbk@aol.com

Looking forward to hearing from you

Ladue News Article

Thanks to Trish and Brittany for publishing such a positive article about me in The Ladue News and for mentioning the importance of supporting The Press Club and St. Louis Jewish Book Festival. You can help in their mission to keep integrity alive in the press by attending the organization's Media Person of the Year Event on Thursday, October 24 at the Hilton at the St. Louis Ballpark. Leisa Zigman, News Anchor and Reporter at KSDK-TV will be the honoree. Festivities begin at 6:00 P.M
For more details contact: info@stlpressclub.org

Hope you'll enjoy the article:

http://www.laduenews.com/living/retirement-lifestyle/a-writer-s-passion/article_4171cf6e-d1be-11e1-89d0-001a4bcf6878.html#.UAmrk8kPH1I.facebook

The Peanut Butter Kid and  the Peanut Butter Lady hope all you dads had a great Father's Day with your loved ones.