Throwback Post: Lillian Asks for Reviews

**THROWBACK POST**

Hey Chris!

I contacted you back in 2013 to let you know how much I enjoy your books and you sent me an autographed book! I was twelve years old then and am sixteen now! Here are the pictures from that time.

My first book is nearing completion to be published and should be ready by the end of November or some time in December 2017. My mother, Camilla Downs, helped me draft this email.

I was wondering if you’d be interested in writing a review blurb for the cover of my book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories”. If this is not something you feel comfortable doing, do you know any other children’s book authors who would be interested?

Here’s a description of the book; which my mom helped with also …

This book is a collection of tales, adventures, and poems she has written over the years about fairies, princesses, food, emotions, and much more (from 6 years old through 15 years old).

The book contains fictional short stories created and written by Lillian over the years. Some of them will definitely have a “Disney-esque” flavor, most have “positive thinking” as the moral, they are fantasy stories with happy endings, and some teach how to mirror animals in processing emotions.

I suppose this may be best described as a fictional anthology of Lillian’s life and imagination to date. The imagination and creative process of one with a chromosome deletion and how she chooses to see the world.

The stories and poems will be edited for spelling and grammar, yet the bulk of the stories will remain as she originally wrote and published them on her blog, a previous blog from when she was younger, and handwritten stories throughout the years.

Here’s one of the tales:

A Happy World

I just got inspired by a drawing I drew. Here’s a story based on the drawing.

One day, a bird picked up a seed to eat. A few minutes later, the bird decided that it wasn’t the right seed. The bird threw it back down. That was the beginning of the Happy World.

As the years past, the tree grew until it had several branches and a strong trunk. The strong tree became known as the Happy Tree. The Happy Tree decided to produce a seed. The seed grew with happiness and love. One day, the seed blossomed into a young beautiful tree that didn’t grow much after that point.

The young tree became known as the Amazing Beauty Tree. The Amazing Beauty Tree saw the Happy Tree. Suddenly, she realized that she wanted to know who produced her. She asked the Happy Tree if it was him who planted her. He said yes and Amazing Beauty wanted to produce a seed of her own.

She let the bird fly the seed to the Happy World. The seed became a thin beautiful conifer tree. The tree produced identical seeds until there was almost no room to plant seeds. After that the trees started planting grass seeds. After the grass had grown, there was no room to plant seeds.

A few years later, the several earthquakes that would become the mountains shook the world. The trees, birds, and grass survived. They noticed something different about the landscape and they saw triangular tall figures. They soon realized that they had seen a mountain. About the same time, their roots filled with water and animals.

One year later, humans discovered the Happy World and decided to make a small town out of it. They also made cars, rockets, and kites. The sun, clouds, rain, hail, snow, and thunderstorms were always there but they were nicer than outside of the Happy World. Everyone lived happily.

If you go into a forest, you will realize that the Happy World is the forest.

(14 years old – July 2016)

If you would like to review a few more stories, let us know.

Also, here’s our first review blurb received from one of my mom’s friends who has his 2nd children’s book debuting in December …

“You can’t help but feel happy and be inspired while reading this book. Lillian’s stories jump straight out of her heart and onto the pages in an authentic, innocent, and loving way.
The world needs more positivity and happiness and her stories are bursting with both. Thank you Lillian!” -G. Brian Benson – Award-winning and best-selling author, actor and TEDx speaker.

Thank you so much for your time!

Sincerely,
Lillian Darnell
One of Your Biggest Fans!
P.S. I cc’d my Mother with this email just in case you want to respond to her.

Really Touched My Heart – Where Would You Fly

Oh wow! What a wonderful world Lillian transported me to. What a beautiful soul she is!
I loved the beauty, the innocence, the depth and the magic of Lillian Darnell’s writing. This was truly a wonderful adventure into her amazing world and I enjoyed reading every story and every quote. Such beautiful quotes that really touched my heart. – Jennifer Jansen

For more information about Where Would You Fly, go here …

http://www.WhereWouldYouFly.com

Full of Imagination and Wonder – Where Would You Fly

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?”

To learn more about the book, go here …

Where Would You Fly

Eight Years in the Making Along with Creating Mini Poems

February 22 2020

8 years in the making …. Team TLC – Thomas, Lillian, Camilla … 3 family members …. 4 published books …. There are more to come. However, I need to take this year to press the reset button, for my physical health and for the emotional health of Thomas and Lillian. We’ve drifted from the Team in our Team TLC; which I know will happen as they get older. Yet, I’ve let vital areas slip by the wayside over the past 4 or 5 years, especially this last year.

One major struggle is about to end for us. Once that gift is showered upon us, the rebuilding of Team TLC begins. Of course it will look and feel different than when Thomas and Lillian were younger, and that’s the beauty of it, tempered with the longing of the way it used to be.

I get the feeling the next book will be authored by all three of us. We shall see. I never really know until I become focused on the book’s creation. xoxo

There were days
She could see no reason to continue

There were days
Shrouded in darkness and despair

There were days
Bubbling with joy and love

There were days
She knew the reason to continue

These were the days
The 18,250 days of riding the wheels of her life.

April 10 2020:

Creating more mini poems and messages to hide in Words of Alchemy. Tedious Yet, there’s nothing like the feeling when phrases come together for a perfect fit. 🖤

Book Readings – Words of Alchemy or Where Would You Fly or Biggest Little Photographer

March 15 2020

Book Lovers …. Anyone self isolating or in quarantine …. You can schedule a free reading from any of our books, with the latest being, Words of Alchemy. I get on the phone or other modality with you for 15 minutes or so, I read a few passages, and then we can chat about it if you like.

Sending much love out to all … xoxo … Follow this link to book your reading .. https://camilladowns.youcanbook.me/ …. And this link to see if any of the books interest you … https://camilladowns.com/books/ … Feel free to share this with all your connections …

Book Signing for Lillian Darnell at Barnes & Noble

November 28 2019

Haven’t had time to post this! Lillian Darnell will be at Barnes & Noble this Saturday, the 30th, from 2-4:30, signing her books! It’s a “Local Author Event” all weekend!

I’ll be there in January with my latest book, Words of Alchemy. It got delayed with this wild moving mess! Nearly there with it though! Come by and see Lillian and encourage Barnes & Noble to keep having these events to support authors!! Thank you everyone … for the love and support!!

November 30 2019:

I’m handing out free hugs. Lillian Darnell is handing out free smiles. Come by, pick up an autographed book with a personal message, and support local authors. Today from 2-4:30 at the Reno Barnes & Noble. 💜💜💜

November 30 2019:

She had a good time signing books! Frank and Robert and Samantha came by too. And a photo of a deeply and extremely exhausted me. Thank you Barnes & Noble for supporting local authors.

Team TLC on Plush Life TV Show – Better Pictures

June 2 2018:

That time a couple of months ago when we were invited for a segment on The Plush Show in Reno. We talked about being a family of authors. Thank you Jen!!

Team TLC on The Plush Life TV Show 2018 Better Pictures #1 Team TLC on The Plush Life TV Show 2018 Better Pictures #2 Team TLC on The Plush Life TV Show 2018 Better Pictures #3 Team TLC on The Plush Life TV Show 2018 Better Pictures #4 Team TLC on The Plush Life TV Show 2018 Better Pictures #5 Team TLC on The Plush Life TV Show 2018 Better Pictures #6 Team TLC on The Plush Life TV Show 2018 Better Pictures #7 Team TLC on The Plush Life TV Show 2018 Better Pictures #8 Team TLC on The Plush Life TV Show 2018 Better Pictures #9 Team TLC on The Plush Life TV Show 2018 Better Pictures #10

To learn more about each of our books you can go here ….

Where Would You Fly by Lillian Darnell

Biggest Little Photographer by Thomas Darnell

D iz for Different by Camilla Downs

Happy World Book Day 2018

April 23rd was World Book Day!!

Happy World Book Day from a Team of Book Lovers!!! It’s the perfect day to add to your collection!! xoxo

World Book Day or World Book and Copyright Day is a yearly event on April 23rd, organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to promote reading, publishing and copyright.

World Book Day 2018

Team TLC on Plush Life TV Show – Coming Soon!

April 5 2018:

On April 8th, at 6:00 pm PST, Team TLC was on the local Reno NBC station … We were interviewed a few weeks ago for a wee segment which aired on Plush Life TV Show .. a local lifestyle show. Wheeeee …… Oceans and Oceans and Oceans of Love and Gratitude!!! xoxo

Plush Life Interview Team TLC 3.12.18 #1 Plush Life Interview Team TLC 3.12.18 #2 Plush Life Interview Team TLC 3.12.18 #3 Plush Life Interview Team TLC 3.12.18 #4 Plush Life Interview Team TLC 3.12.18 #5

If you’d like to learn more about our books, you can visit the following links:

WhereWouldYouFly.com

BiggestLittlePhotographer.com

D iz for Different

Closer Still – Where Would You Fly

November 11 2017:

Forward, Closing, About the Author … Done! Next: C18 Info & Book Blurb for Back Cover!

November 16 2017:

Font style chosen. Next to complete: copyright page and back of the book blurb! xoxo

Where Would You Fly Updated Cover 9.2017

Want to pre-order and help us in bringing this to life? Our goal is to have 50 books pre-ordered and we have 15 so far. We are hoping to have them in hand by the end of December 2017. Go here to learn more …. https://www.LillianDarnell.com/author

Thank you!! xoxo