Hi Rebekah – Thanks so much for asking me to join you today to share “the latest” with you!

Let’s see…first of all…

The Kabrini Message, which, as you know, was released last year in eBook and print format, now has a screenplay version in progress as well as an agent and is being marketed in Hollywood as we speak!  Hopefully I’ll have more exciting news on the movie front very soon!

In the meantime, here is the awesome video trailer by Theresa McClinton of Making It Reel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMnnm_MnmV8

And the buy and follow links for all things Kabrini:

Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Barnes and Noble Facebook Blog YouTube Video Trailer Pinterest Twitter

As many of you know, The Kabrini Message was written by my late brother, Joe (J.R. Egles) and I am just the steward (stewardess?) that handled getting it published and making sure the world got to know the Kabrini after Joe’s passing.

Story-Behind-The-Story  I, myself, had never written anything.  Until now…

Which brings me to my next bit of news:  My good friend, Kathleen, suggested she and I collaborate on a children’s book with me writing the text and her providing the illustrations.

That project has become Ralphie’s B.F.F.’s – Bird Friends Forever.  Based on a true story starring my dog Ralphie and the time we “bird sat” Kathleen’s pet finches, Homer and Peep.  My other little dog, Charlotte, plays a supporting role, too as her true diva-self.

The basic premise is that Ralphie was always under the impression that he hated birds, but that’s only because he never really knew any.  He just thought dogs were not supposed to like birds.  When given the opportunity to get to know some (i.e., they were forced upon him), to his surprise he realizes how much they have in common and is amazed to learn that he actually does like birds!

It’s a picture book geared to children ages 3 to 8.  The illustrations are not complete yet, but here is a short excerpt (notes in parenthesis describe the illustration that will be there):

Ralphie and his sister Charlotte love to play in the back yard.

But Ralphie does not like birds.

Whenever a bird lands in his backyard, he barks and chases the bird away.

“Ralphie,” Mommy says, “you should be nice to the birds!”

“But I can’t be nice to birds,” he says. “I’m a dog.  And everyone knows dogs aren’t supposed to like birds!”

“Why not?” asks Charlotte.

“Because…well, I don’t know why not, but we’re just not, that’s all.”

One day, Mommy tells Ralphie and Charlotte, “Aunt Kathleen is going on a trip and we are going to watch her pet birds while she is away”.

“Birds inside the house?”  Ralphie asks.

(Ralphie looks outraged, Charlotte looks blasé)

“Where I can get them?!”  (Becoming deviously happy looking)

Charlotte:  “Whatever.”

That afternoon, Aunt Kathleen arrives with the birds in a cage.

She says, “Ralphie and Charlotte, this is Homer and Peep.”

(Ralphie has menacing look on his face.)

Mommy says, “Ralphie, I don’t like the way you’re looking at Homer and Peep. I’m putting them in my office where I can keep a close eye on them.”

(Cage being relocated)

For the next few days, Ralphie watches the birds constantly. He keeps wondering how he can eat them! (still looking fiendish)

But then, something interesting happens.  Ralphie starts to notice that Homer and Peep are very pretty colors and they sing very pretty songs. (look is softening, inquisitive)

“I never noticed those things about birds before,” he thinks.  “I guess I was too busy chasing them.

OK, I know you are dying to know what happens next (lol…), but you will just have to wait and see.

As soon as the illustrations are done we will send it to the publisher and you can be sure I will update everyone with a release date ASAP!

In the meantime, here is a picture of the real Ralphie “bird-sitting” the real Homer and Peep.

Now, I understand you have a few questions for me…ask away!

What is your Latest Obsession?　

Downton Abby!  Love it, love it, love it!!!  I can’t believe Season 4 is over already.  Why are the seasons so short now?  Seven or eight episodes…really???  Didn’t the TV season used to run from September through June with reruns only in the summer?  (I’m dating myself, aren’t I?)  Oh well, luckily I recently purchased seasons one through three on DVD and will have to add season four to my collection and watch them over and over!

Who is your Secret Crush?

I don’t know how much of a “secret” it is, but Bradley Cooper.  In fact, Mr. Cooper will be playing the main character, Jeffrey Driscoll, in The Kabrini Message movie.  Although he is, technically, not aware of this yet, but that situation will change soon.

Shoes? Purses? or Jewelry?　

Hmmm….all three really!  But if I had to pick a favorite, I’d say it changes from time to time, but right now…purses.  Usually shoes, but right now purses.

Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Or something else?

Coffee.  Again, all three, but coffee is the favorite.  But really it’s what goes into it more than the coffee itself!  Truthfully, I like it way too sweet and with so much flavored creamer, that it’s more like creamer with a little bit of coffee!  WaWa (I think they’re only in the northeast US) Vanilla with vanilla creamer and topped off with any of a variety of cappuccinos (Pumpkin Spice in the Fall, Winter Spice now, Vanilla the rest of the year).  Hmmm…think I’ll go get some now and come back and finish.

What was your　Best Vacation Ever?

OK, I’m back!

I was fortunate enough to go on a Mediterranean cruise last spring and then spend a few days in Paris!  My all time dream trip.  We left out of Barcelona and went to several ports in France and Italy including Monte Carlo, Provence, Florence, Pisa, Pompeii, and Rome.  I loved every minute of it, but the city I’ve literally ALWAYS wanted to see is Paris, so that was the biggest dream come true of all.  I loved it so much that I began taking French lessons when I got home and I’m really loving that, too.  I plan to return in September, so hopefully I’ll be able to speak a little of the language.  I’m hoping I won’t be like Matt Damon in Monuments Men where he thinks he speaks “fluent French”, but he’s really terrible and they’re all laughing at him…lol…!  I will have to study hard!

Thanks again for having me Rebekah and I hope you will allow me the opportunity to come back again soon with more updates.  Happy Friday everyone!