Happy Birthday, Small Talk

Lots of exciting news about my book this week, but the best was a note from my son.

In my limited experience, the day a book launches often proves to be pretty much the same as any other day. Except for feeling kind of silly because it’s supposed to be a special day. My newest book, Small Talk: Learning From My Children About What Matters Most, released on Tuesday, and the best thing that happened was the card William presented to me that morning

(see photo). It reads “happy birthday small talk. I think it will be a big success and if it is it will be good.”

But in additon to that terrific show of support, I also am excited to report that I had a few articles and a television interview this week as well.

First, on Monday, I had an essay on ABCNews.com: What I Learn From My Kids in Talking About Disability. The title pretty much says it all.

Then, on Wednesday morning I was interviewed for The Harvest Show. I had a terrific time with Valerie and Chuck, and we talked for about ten minutes about parenting, disability, and Small Talk. If you’re interested in watching the video, my interview starts around minute 20 of the show. (My favorite part is when I told a story about knocking William over with a pillow and then the producers showed a photo of William with no front teeth. Classic.)

Finally, this morning I have an opinion piece in USA Today (page 9A if you have a paper copy) about talking with our children about hard things in the news. It’s called Parents, Take Your Kids Seriously.

I also appreciated blogger Mark Leach’s review of Small Talk:

“Becker’s prose, pace, and word choice convey an open, welcoming feel, drawing the reader into a conversation. Her writing sounds quiet, questioning without confronting or judging. It’s a style that fits …