How I Fall (51 page)

inspiration for the story

The character of Ellen Foster is fictional, but her Cerebral Palsy symptoms and hemiparesis/balance issues loosely match what an amazing teen (and I girl I’m proud to call my friend) named Allison Winn, faces every single day. Her condition was not brought on by CP, but was brought about due to complications Allison suffered after the removal of a childhood brain tumor which resulted in side effects that will be with her for the rest of her life.

Despite all that sadness, with the help of her mom, Dianna, dad Brian, the patience of her sister, Emily, and the inspiration from a tiny rescued dog named Coco, Allison was inspired to help other kids by baking dog biscuits (thousands of them) so she could raise money to help other kids like her. These biscuits were hand sold by Allison for months (and now years) so other sick kids and sad families could afford to adopt a fully trained dog from a very special program into their lives.

At age nine, Allison’s goal was to raise enough money so one special trained dog could be placed with a kid who had life threatening issues. She met that goal, and that same year adopted out 10 dogs with the sales of her dog treats! Now she’s fourteen and her project has a name: The Stinkbug Project. Stinkbug has now adopted out 40+ dogs to kids who live around the Rocky Mountain Region all because Allison never gives up baking. Now so many people help to raise awareness while others donate baking and packaging supplies and volunteer to help Allison bake and sell the treats.

This girl, who soon will be an amazing woman, is now cancer free but she still works tirelessly at baking and selling biscuits for what has become a thriving community charity effort. The trained dogs are all rescued dogs who come from the very special, Colorado based, K-9 correctional dog training program. Adoptions and applications for a dog are now handled via the Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation. More information about The Stinkbug Project, Allison, and RMHF can be found at:
http://www.rmchildren.org/programs/stink-bug-project/

Every year, a donation will be sent by me to support this amazing project, and at all book signings I will be accepting donatins on behalf of this wonderful project and  donating them to Allison’s efforts as well.

about the author

Anne Eliot writes childrens and young adult books. She’s the author of the
How I Fall
and
How I Fly
series, as well as a bestselling author of two other stand alone teen romances:
Almost
, and
Unmaking Hunter Kennedy
. She loves writing about teens with issues like PTSD, depression, and now CP/hemeparesis. She loves writing about teens who live outside the ordinary, but who live well depite the cards they were dealt. She’s also devoted to stories with sweet first kisses and first loves.

Anne resides in Colorado with a very patient husband, kids she adores (near and far) who are growing up too fast, and a trouble making Chihuahua named,
Pico DeGuy
. She is addicted to cheese and crackers, can also be found often dreaming on Tumblr: anneeliot.tumblr.com, tweeting @yaromance, or goofing off on Facebook/AnneEliotAuthor.

For more information and contact info, please visit:

www.anneEliot.com.

The Love Page

There are so many people to mention, I am afraid I can’t mention all so if your name is not here...know I love you. Kika, Wilson, Tom...I’m putting you twice because I could not do this without your help. Mom, Dad thanks for everyting but mostly for taking me to the Denver Children’s Library so much. To Tim Hortons Coffee, and the Timbit creators yes, I do love you.

Steve Nash, most awesome PT and advisor, this book could not have been made without your patience. Karen Wiley who met with me long ago to talk about CP. How much you shared with me all sides of being a mom who has teen twins with Cerebral Palsy. Powers Family, Nelson Family, Flynn Family, Litvack/Winn family, Walker Family, O’Connor Family, Bigwood’s, Nash Family, Hite-Hargraves, Rothschild’s, Offens, Lynn Reeder, Dawkins far away, Stattman Family, MacFarlane Family, Goettesthe’s, Brodies, Posey’s, Wilson’s, Shattucks, Sfalcin’s and Nespolos, Grando’s and Taibi’s and the Lutchenko Family far away and all the coolest Rockrimmon/Perigrine familes ever. I want to list everyone I know... I thank you for letting me disappear while I wrote this book (and the others) and for loving me when I come up for air.

Awesome love to DGLM, Jane and Lauren, Amazon Digital Publishing, KDP & Create Space.

A shout out to all the fans and amaizng friends (because most of you are friends now) who talk to me, people I’ve met on Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook and Tumblr. Thank you for all of your support and love. I know some of you are so far away, but my heart is with you and I wish I could list you all as well. Thank you so much for all the encouragment.

To besties, writers and pure love people. Lana Williams, Michelle Major, Jennie Marts, Cindi Madsen, Michelle Mankin and dear Lisa in TX, Deanna, Marty B., All the SCBWI/and RWA Sunday writing ladies (you know who you are even if you’ve moved away). Judith Tanini, Kelly Moorhouse, Kayla Pepper Shirley, Lila Felix and the Nunez family esp. Carlos. Jaz. Greene,

Thessa <3 with sweet Rachael W., JOY Shelly Crane, Kim K. and Jennifer J. ALL OF THE NOLA and SAN FRAN amazing authors who are so cool and kind and generous. Kimi <3 , Heather Love King, All of the amazing people I’m about to meet at my first UTopYa, Always love to RWA National for NYC and BEA 2014 and for helping me with my dreams all along, the Colorado Teen Literature Conference, Seteve Windwalker oh, you rock, Andrea Brown, SupaGurl Heather, Pavan, Putri, Hilal, Val at Stuck in Books, Ashley Byland, to Fred LeBron, Carolyn Thomas,  You know the love is so huge. Erin who talked to me long ago about how it felt to be in a wheelchair, Ellen S. and Yann and Judith again, ;). Mandy Anderson, and Nic and Denise--woot Vancover, Adriane Boyd, when do I get to hug you? Tabby Ventura Lisa Pantano Kane and all of the most amazing bloggers I’ve met who work so hard for the love of books and indies. Shania, Jen Halligan, Tess Watson, Tasha W. Casey Cogan and everyone. Eeek...I’m misisng so many of you. Thank you. Please know, I’m so tired and this baby has got to go live before I go crazy. xo xo Sweetest girls in Philiphines JASMINE, DYAN, Nikki.

Peter Freedman. No words. Only love. How hard you work to make these books beautiful.

Kika MacFarlane amazing artist who makes all swag and digital art amazing. To Laura my inspiration for Laura London who is not from London, or Limerick but from the UK and whom I promised to make laugh one day. A slice of your heart is here with mine now, even though you live too far.  Kika, Saorise, Becca, Keva, Anahid, Kimmie, Basma, Polina, Andrii, Kirill, Sophia, Kate, Sunan, Holly Nichols, Jen Beamer, Theresa R. Gittleman, and all of the amazing exchange students who I wish I could list you all. Go 2014, and 2013 YES and FLEX kids. Our world is amazing because of you all. Thanks for sharing bits of your lives with us. I can’t forget our other daughters Mary/Masha K. and Iver Tan, how we miss you all...come back.