Just finished a book review on my blog. Another book I really enjoyed reading .. My eyes did some sweating writing this one; cause, no, everything is not okay and this is exhausting. Yet, I have faith and I KNOW the rainbow IS there. Even if I can’t see it all the time.
Here’s a bit of the review .. Most Inspiring Lines: (Way too many to list. Here are a few.) I know what it’s like to spend an entire lifetime trying to pretend that I’m okay, that I’m “fine.” I know what it’s like to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders, convincing people that I have it all together. I know how exhausting it is and how many nights I cried alone in my bed, too tired to carry the burden anymore. What I do know is the freedom when I decided that I wasn’t going to pretend anymore. Go here to read more about this great book …
My eyes were a sweating this morning when I read this warm and beautiful Amazon review from Giuliana LaRocca Ragas … Warms my heart and adds fuel to the fires of my passion.
“This book was given to me by very good friend of mine who knows Camilla through their group. I have a two year old son with Down Syndrome so she knew that I would benefit from reading it. Within minutes of opening the book I was not able to put it down. Camilla is right on the nose with so many things. Her book gave me so much hope for my son and his future and let me know that it was okay to be sad and angry. Not all days are going to be easy, but it is okay because we can all get through them with the strength we have within. She gives so much hope for the special needs world and her book gives our children a voice. There is nothing wrong with them just the people that think that there is. I have read it again and highlighted some amazing things that she has said. Regardless of the fact if you a new parent with a child with a disability or someone that has an older child this book is a must read. No one is alone in this, we are all in it together 🙂”
Thank you Becky Gaylor Hobby for making sure Giuliana got one of my books!!
Thank you Mark Sogard for the GREAT Amazon review … appreciate it tons and tons!!
“While it is a breath of fresh air to see a book written for parents of special needs children,do not think that if you don’t have any special needs children you won’t get anything from this book. Not only does it contain invaluable information for special needs parents, it contains inspiring uplifting tips for the journey at the end of every chapter-and who doesn’t need that type of help in this fast paced society that we live in? Very well written and inspiring.”
Thanks Michelle for the kind words in your Amazon Review!! Big ole hug to YOU!!
I ordered this book because my friend Camilla Downs wrote it and I had lost contact with her for many years and thanks to Facebook we were reconnected an I found out about her book and had to get it so I could see how her life was going and so glad I did..I never knew any of the things she talked about in her book, and I don’t have a special needs child but the book help me in so many ways just by reading it and understanding its all in the way you look and view your life as to how it can turn out ….you can be negative Nancy and you will be unchanged or you can be positive polly and forever be changed…thanks Cam for letting the world read about your life I am forever changed love you much…thanks fb for inventing a site for people to reconnect and keep in touch with family and friends and last but not least thank you Amazon for selling her books an so many other things that we can purchase and have not fears of being scammed its safe an fast to order from Amazon.com…..an all the thanks and praise goes the the Big Man Upstairs the Lord thank you most of all…..sincerely Michelle….
Thank you tons and tons to Lorna of Special Needs Book Review for sharing about ‘D iz for Different’!!! Check out the FB page .. GREAT resources y’all!
For my C18 family: Got a link to C18 website and some info about C18 in the article too!
“Feelings of isolation and overwhelm keep special needs parents stuck, especially when coupled with deeply ingrained erroneous thought habits,” said Ms. Downs. “Special needs parents can unknowingly isolate themselves and begin viewing their lives in a negative way. These findings from the discussions and interviews that went to the writing of D iz for Different have been further confirmed by the hundreds of discussions that have been generated since its publication in May of 2012,” she added. Downs wrote and ….
Special Needs Book Review is pleased that yet another author agreed to introduce her book to our readers. This guest post is by Camilla Downs the author of D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance. Since the book’s publication, Camilla Downs has undergone her own professional transformation with a career change from social media consultant to special needs parent coach and mentor, offering hope and guidance to others parenting kids with special needs. Congratulations Camilla on all your achievements! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. First, who is Camilla Downs?
Camilla Downs is a special needs parent mentor, guiding parents to help them decrease feelings of overwhelm by shifting their views and showing them they are not alone. Her book, D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance, was published in May 2012. The book offers Ms. Downs personal experiences in facing and overcoming life’s trials with grit and humor, along with providing practical “Tips for the Journey” throughout the book. Others parenting kids with special needs will be able to relate to Camilla’s journey.
More About the Author
D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance by Camilla Downs will be of interest to others parenting children with special needs. Camilla Downs is also an advocate of living an adventurous, inspired and different life than expected. With these new life experiences, Camilla has now become a motivational speaker.
Team TLC helps parenting Kids with Special Needs Camilla is mom to 11 year old Lillian and 7 year old Thomas. Lillian is a child with special needs who was diagnosed with 18p- when she was 3 years old. They call themselves Team TLC and share their journey on the Team TLC website .
D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance- Powerful Truths for Others Parenting Kids with Special Needs by Camilla Downs
Camilla Downs is a Reno-based single mother of two children, one of them with a significant chromosomal disorder. Ms. Downs’ personal struggles inspired her to write D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance specifically for parents of children with special needs. Downs’ work underlines a clear message: You need not feel isolated and overwhelmed. She offers this group of families, now numbering in the millions in the U.S., inspiration, hope and specific advice and actions to help them become unstuck and more effective in their personal and professional lives.
“Feelings of isolation and overwhelm keep special needs parents stuck, especially when coupled with deeply ingrained erroneous thought habits,” said Ms. Downs. “Special needs parents can unknowingly isolate themselves and begin viewing their lives in a negative way. These findings from the discussions and interviews that went to the writing of D iz for Different have been further confirmed by the hundreds of discussions that have been generated since its publication in May of 2012,” she added.
Downs wrote and self-published D iz for Different in less than a year, prompted by her experiences as a single parent devising creative solutions to life’s challenges, including financial struggles. Friends and professionals who saw the value of a self-help book geared towards parents of special needs children donated services including the book’s cover artwork and design, editing, proofreading, interior layout and design.
Endorsements for D iz for Different include Julie Zigler Norman, author of Growing Up Zigler: A Daughter’s Broken Journey from Heartache to Hope, and Jim Stovall, Emmy award-winning best-selling author of The Ultimate Gift.
Here is a short book trailer of “D iz for Different”
Amazon reviewer, Kathy Buchanan said, “An uplifting and honest book about facing life’s challenges. The book teaches you that how you respond to adversity is within your control and that you can still be happy even when circumstances are less than perfect…”
Camilla Downs author of book on parenting kids with special needsIn another Amazon review, Liz Arches said, “A is for Amazing, B is for Beautiful, C is for Camilla and Courageous…When you see someone who is making such a fantastic job of parenting in difficult circumstances as Camilla is, it can be awesome in the sense of ‘daunting’ as much as ‘inspiring’. It might be hard to imagine that you could ever do anything like the same. But first-time author Camilla is happy to admit that none of this came easy to her, and to acknowledge that it doesn’t come easy to anybody. She just wants to share the positive attitudes and techniques that have worked for her and which might be helpful for other parents, offering parents the opportunity to enjoy every minute of every day with their children. And it’s all presented in short, pithy chapters, so you can get on with that enjoyment all the sooner!”
This has been great. Wrapping up soon. A poetry reading with others in the UK, Canada, and me in Reno. ❤️🎉❤️
April 24 2021
And then I received an email this morning with this message (referencing my 1st book, D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance) …
“Your decision to share your experiences and insights is truly a gift to the world. I have been having a synchronistic experience with your book. Sometimes, when I read it, I will move the bookmark to another spot in the book and then fail to replace it after I finish reading. The next time I go to read, the bookmark may be in a spot I have read before, but the words will be perfect for what is going on at that moment in time.” – Lisa
Lisa’s message landed on a thirsty heart. I’m thankful to those who quench the heart’s thirst just when it is needed most.
I don’t talk about this book much, as it’s about to receive a new cover, at which point I’ll re-launch with the new cover. Hopefully, in the next 1 – 3 months. (A very tired me, and a happy Lillian at a November 2019 book signing.)
To learn more about Words of Alchemy and D iz for Different, go here …
And then there was this lovely surprise yesterday … Thank you to Helen of Pink Quill Books!! I appreciate YOU! xoxo
“My review for Where Would You Fly? & Other Magical Stories by Lillian Darnell, 5/5 stars.
The first line of the blurb for this book reads:
Welcome to the radiant imagination of Lillian Darnell, a wonderful and unique human being, the kind who comes around only once in every 56,000 births, as she is missing the short arm of her 18th chromosome.
I thought it was the perfect introduction to my review. Her stories are full of imagination and wonder, as you see the world through her eyes from age 4 (written with a little help from her mum, Camilla) to age 16. Some are gentle guides to mindfulness, others to how to be happy, and most are delightful stories with fairies, unicorns, and magic.
I have to admit I found the Emotions and Feelings part particularly touching, where Lillian explores her own emotions while growing up. Her condition, and her journey which led to the publication of this book, are explained in the introduction by Camilla, who is also a wonderful poet, and a beautiful person. Her dedication to Lillian, and her son Thomas, is evident through the stories Lillian has written and the love she has for her family.
Every now and then it’s lovely to get away from the real world and travel to distant lands with mythical beings. Lillian’s book is a wonderful distraction that you can dip into every now and then, and it will put a smile on your face. Many thanks to Camilla, Lillian and Thomas for the chance to read Where Would You Fly?”
“Words of Alchemy is warm and personal, like being invited to sit on the author’s couch and listen to her talk to family and friends. Intimate and loving, these poems are a celebration of family, of friends, of life, of nature, and of adaptation.” – Amazon Customer
Incredibly creative idea by Lillian Darnell …. She has created an interview between two fictional characters discussing a book. Lillian’s fun idea for a book review with a twist! I hope you’ll check it out … Pretty quick read.
