Laugh Lines

Middle Age. Modern Marriage. Epic Fails.

Closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear? Grab my FREE "Ninja Closet Cleaning Course (what to toss, what to keep)," and find out how to love your clothes again.

Write a Book, They Said. It’ll be Fun, They Said. I Did. It Was. IT’S HERE!

By 60 Comments

Shake_Rattle_

 

For the three people I haven’t told yet, IT’S HERE! I’m beside myself with glee to finally announce the release of a two-year-long effort, my first book!

Available NOW on Amazon.com (Softcover). I’m kind of loving the Amazon.com description:

“Erma Bombeck meets Michael J. Fox in Shake, Rattle & Roll With It: Living and Laughing with Parkinson’s. Vikki Claflin is a writer, humorist, and professional public speaker who, at age 50, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

After many dark days spent coming to terms with her diagnosis, Vikki’s natural comic optimism and irreverence began to resurface, and she started writing on her blog about the funny side of living with Parkinson’s.

Shake, Rattle & Roll With It is a collection of Vikki’s honest – and hilarious – essays about the ups and downs of life with a chronic disease. She shows us how to laugh at ourselves by first laughing at her. Vikki unabashedly shares with us her most embarrassing moments in her battle with Parkinson’s.

Chapter titles include:

“Hey Doc, Call Me When They Find a Cure, Okay?”
“Thank You for Searching Google.doc. Yep, You’re Gonna Die”
“Date Night. This Isn’t How I Remember It”
“I Gave Hubs a Pole Dance and He Can’t Stop Laughing. It’s Been Two Days”
“The 20 Best Things About Having Parkinson’s”

A true gift to anyone living with a chronic condition, or who just loves a good belly laugh, Shake, Rattle & Roll With It is pure joy, and should be on everyone’s MUST READ list.”

(Thank God for fabulous editors. They make everything perfect. They’re like the plastic surgeons of the writing world.)

And now the real fun begins. How to get those 10,000 books out of our garage and mailed off to their new homes!

You all know that I have an instinctive resistance to online begging. It’s an organic fear of rejection. That’s why I don’t enter voting contests or anything that requires a “Click here and Vote for me!” widget on my sidebar. But (and you knew this was coming), I’m mustering up my courage as I sit alone at my computer, clutching a doughnut and a Diet Coke, asking you to buy the book. For you, for someone you love who has Parkinson’s, for someone you love who’s living with someone who has Parkinson’s, or for your crazy neighbor who just loves to laugh at somebody else’s expense. They’ll love it, you’ll be a hero, and I’ll have one less book in my garage (1 down…9,999 to go. Hubs is so happy). Win, win, and win!

You can order it right off my blog from Amazon.com, or if you would like an autographed copy (available TODAY), with check or through PayPal. Just click the book cover on the right sidebar, and it will take you to either option!

happy wag peacock

The second thing (geez, I seem to be getting the hang of this begging thing) I would love, love, love from you, my readers, is a review on Amazon.com. Reviews can make or break a book. Amazon.com gives more exposure to books that have a lot of reviews. They don’t need to be long or “professional.” It’s super easy and quick. Just click , which will take you to my Amazon.com order page, then click “Review this book.” Blurt out a few sentences about what you think of the book and click “Submit.” You’re done!

And because my mother taught me to always give back, I’m announcing a fabulously fun THANK YOU drawing. Starting today, and for the next two weeks (until midnight, November 17th) anyone who posts a review of Shake, Rattle & Roll With It on Amazon.com will be entered into a Thank You drawing. (Those of you who posted reviews over the last few days, during our “preview launch,” will be automatically entered). Five people will then be randomly selected to receive an autographed copy of my book (possibly worth big bucks someday…or not. But you never know), and one of those books will come as part of the Big Daddy Winner’s Writer’s Swag Bag.

What’s in a Writer’s Swag Bag, you ask?

1. A water bottle inscribed with “I’d rather be writing,” for those long, dehydrating sessions in front of your computer;
2. A coffee mug, with Ernest Hemingway’s famous quote “The first draft of anything is shit,” for you nocturnal or early-morning writers;
3. One lb. of Dunkin’ Doughnuts ground coffee, because the mug doesn’t work without anything in it;
4. A small notebook to carry with you, for those oh-so-witty one-liners that come to you at a stoplight, but that you forget by the time you get home, causing you to spend the rest of the day trying desperately (and unsuccessfully) to get them back, but they’re gone forever because you didn’t write them down;
5. A delicious, imported chocolate bar, because…well, chocolate;
6. A delightful watercolor birds bookmark, to put inside that book lying on your nightstand, that you’ve been trying to read for six months, because it’s so much classier than dog-earing the pages (and God knows, we are a very classy group);
7. A package of Relaxing Lavender Aromatherapy bath salts, for when you’re just done for the day;
8. An autographed copy of Shake, Rattle & Roll With It. Because it’s fabulous. And you’re fabulous. And I’m doing a happy dance in your honor.

Is this fun or what??

So please, pick up a copy of my book and consider leaving a brief review on Amazon.com. All the cool kids are doing it.

In advance, and from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!

Now Hubs has gone out to the garage, with the champagne. I’m on my way.

Filed Under: Best Of, Laughter, Life, Parkinson's Tagged With: Erma Bombeck, , Michael J. Fox, Parkinson's, publishing, swag

A Thank You To You

Comments

  11. Marcia @ Blogitudes says

    Huge Congratulations, Vikki and may you never grow tired of drinking champagne and doing your Happy Dance over this awesome achievement!!! Getting a book published is definitely cause for a much deserved celebration and there are a lot of us happy dancing right along with you! Congratulations again! Crank up the tunes and rock on!!! :)

    Reply

  12. Barbara Lane says

    Ordered my book from Amazon. Can’t wait to get it. Erma Bombeck is one of my favorite writers – and your writing is so funny like hers. I find myself laughing out loud as I read your blog. Looking forward to the book!

    Reply

  14. Kim says

    Congrats! You are an amazing writer and I am so glad I’ve had the chance to “meet” you through your blog.

    And oh man, I am hoping I win that writer’s swag bag. Never in my life have I drooled over swag that much. It sounds so freaking awesome.

    Reply

  16. Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com says

    Congratulations Vikki! As a fellow author I KNOW the happy excitement that comes from that first book. I wish you incredible success and the fulfillment of all your dreams about it. And don’t be afraid to ask for support, exactly the right people will step up at exactly the right time to help you! ~Kathy

    Reply

  17. Chris Carter says

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I am most DEFINITELY going to buy your book, my friend!! I can’t WAIT to read it, and surely I will write a review…

    You DID IT. SO excited for you, Vikki!!

    Reply

  18. Beverly Skweres says

    Congratulations, Vikki!!! What an amazing achievement! My wishes are that you are doing a happy dance and enjoying a HUGE glass of wine.

    I am hoping that your book is also available in Kindle edition :) I’m going to Amazon.com right now to check.

    Reply

    • Vikki Claflin says

      Thanks, Beverly! Yep, the wine is breathing and I’m itching to do my happy dance, but I’m at work and it freaks out my boss. :) We’re working on the Kindle version, but the conversion is taking some time. The softcover is SO much prettier, though!

      Reply

  20. Brenda Homandberg says

    I just ordered your book from Amazon. Its my birthday on Wednesday so I consider this my birthday present to myself. Great idea don’t you think. I can’t wait to read it.

    Reply

  22. Emma Ann Weatherly says

    Vikki,
    Congratulations!!!
    I’d love an autographed copy… but the book icon on your site continually takes me only to Amazon. Am I making a mistake? I need to go directly to your site to use Paypal, right???

    Help! I need laughter, quick…

    Thanks for all the smiles,
    Emma Ann

    Reply

  25. Laura says

    Congrats on your book! Before I “retired” from bedside nursing I worked with many people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. It’s not a humorous disease, it’s heartbreaking. I’m so happy you’ve tapped into the humor and will give caregivers and those who suffer a chance to laugh with you.

    Reply

    • Vikki Claflin says

      Thank you, Laura! My hope is to alleviate fear, anger, or depression in people living with PD (or any chronic illness) with some laughter. They say you can’t be laughing and angry at the same time, and it’s true! I know exactly how it feels. :)

      Reply

  26. Susan Turner says

    Hey, I haven’t read your book yet, but will put in a review anyway because we’re so fabulous! And I already know you’re a wonderful writer!
    I’ll be in touch for The Perfect Holiday Gift–your book–ASAP.
    God love you, my dear
    Susan T.

    Reply

  29. Melissa Ferreira says

    New to your blog and loving it – CONGRATS Vikki! Can’t wait to read the gonna – be – fabulous book!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

error: Content is protected !!