Last weekend was my daughter's Quinceañera, and as promised, here are some pics.

If you are wondering what a Quinceañera is, it’s a coming of age party when a girl turns 15 in latin cultures. It started off in Mexico where parents would introduce their daughters to the community as young women who are now available to marry (not that Alissa is available to marry now, haha). Even though that tradition is far removed from our culture today, I still believe it is important to acknowledge the transition form girl to young womanhood and to acknowledge my latin heritage. 

I moved to Bolivia when I was 14 so my memories are full of attending the Quinceañeras of other girls. Back then, this marked the time when the girl could now wear heels, wear makeup, and dance with a boy for the first time. It was funny, too, when the weekend after a Quinceañera the girl would suddenly show up with TONS of makeup on! Haha.

A Quinceañera is a big party with a few formalities. The girl gets to choose a “court of honour” which is 1-14 of her “best friends.” They get ready together, take photos, have a lot of fun, and sit at the head table with the girl who is coming of age. 

There is the first dance, which is between the father and daughter, and then it’s followed with other significant men in the girl’s life (grandfathers, uncles, and brothers.) 

The weather did not co-operate for Alissa’s Quinceañera. We had a snow storm the day “of” and all day I thought everyone would cancel. I was so happy and surprised that almost everyone was able to make it, and we only had one person cancel due to weather. 

We had a great time. It was important for me to have this party for my daughter as a way to keep the latin tradition alive in my family. Both my parents are from Bolivia, and of course, I lived there for seven years of my life. We had 180 guests, and the majority of them had never heard of a Quinceañera.

It was months of planning, but it all paid off seeing my daughter so happy. The next day her comment was, “that was the best day of my life!” 

I love that my family and friends were able to learn more of latin culture and that we were able to celebrate this special time in my daughter’s life. 

A big thank you to Boutique Linen Rentals, who really made everything so beautiful and achieved the “winter wonderland” look that we were going for. What cultural traditions do you keep in your family? I'd love to hear about them. 

Hugs, 

Miriam

Booking now for Family Literacy Day Jan 27th! 

Limited Spots Available.

I LOVE visiting schools and inspiring the students with the positive message of my I CAN books, but sometimes things can get in the way, like distance or our famous Canadian winters. I decided there HAD to be an easy, more affordable option for schools to get an award-winning author visit for their students. I discovered that visiting a school virtually is super fun and easy with the magic of the internet. Virtual Author Visits with me are the latest thing for small groups of students…. and best of all… they are free with the purchase of 20 books!

It’s easy to reach a 20 book order with our take home order forms or the paperless option, school cash online. Your students will gain access to a special deal on all of my books (tax included), with free shipping (YES!)*, AND the chance to get their books signed.

Choose from one of FOUR positive presentations! Your Virtual Author Visit will include a book reading and a question and answer period. A visit is approx. 30 min long and best suited for small groups (1-2 classes).

Virtual Author Visits include access to all the materials and exercises that an in-person author visit does, so you will have engaging materials available to take the message further with your students. Contact us now to reserve your spot and get the ball rolling! I am scheduling five bookings for five lucky schools in honour of ABC's Family Literacy Day on Jan 27th.

Those spots are going to fill up fast, so let me know right away if you want one!

Happy New Year! With the new year freshly arrived, everyone is looking at 2020 and deciding what they want to accomplish in this brand new year. Of course, this year is extra special because it is the beginning of a new decade as well! It can be intimidating to plan so far ahead, but looking back at 2019, I am SO THANKFUL that I set the goals I did. If I hadn't set these goals, I may not have had such a successful and fun year.  Professionally, I was able to publish The Big, Bad Bully with Jack and I got my six new clients to publish for 2020! I also had individual goals for each of my children, and I was able to accomplish them! For Lucas, he wanted to work on his reading skills, and I am proud to say he is reading fluently now. Aiden wanted help with volleyball and to get on a good team, and he achieved that, too! Sarina was suffering from some acne issues, and we were finally able to find a solution! Her new, clear complexion has helped her feel really great about herself. I am still working on Alissa's goal, which is to have an amazing Quincenera. She loved her sister's a couple years back, and hers is coming up this month. I am well on my way to helping her achieve that goal as well. Below is a photo from Sarina's Quincenera (Sarina is on the left, and Alissa on the right). I will be sure to share some photos with you from Alissa's in a few weeks.

I am a bit of a goal-geek. I like to know what I want and have a plan in place to get it done. There is nothing like looking back and realizing that you have achieved something you really wanted. Now, I know New Year's Goals are infamous for not being kept, so here is my tip for setting goals for the decade:

Write yourself a letter imagining what your like will be like in 2030. Think about what your family will be like, what your health will be like, and what your finances will be like when you accomplish your goals. Think about how that will feel and how your daily schedule will change. Address the letter for January 1, 2030 and put it in a safe place. Not the “safe place” that is a black hole where stuff is lost forever, haha, but a place you will be sure to find. Maybe even set a reminder on your phone with the location. 

My suggestion: open that letter up on the first of every new year. It will help keep your goals in mind and write out your yearly goals for that new year. 

I am very excited for this new year and decade and can't wait to see where it takes us! We can DO this!

I know a lot of people have a goal of writing a book. If this is you, I will be offering an online six-week writing course in February, AND I will be choosing another six authors to work with and publish in May/June 2020 with my Publishing Mastermind.

Hugs,

Miriam

PS – If you need some extra help with goal-setting, I have some blog post links at the very bottom of this email that can help you with setting goals you are SURE to achieve.

1. How to set a TRUE Goal
2. Over-coming Goal Fear
3. How to Stay Focused and FOLLOW-THROUGH
4. Making a Plan
5. Getting Your Rear in Gear
6. Accountability Partners (don't miss this…. it is SUPER IMPORTANT)

Sunny St. Maarten is such a beautiful place! After putting in so much work for the launch of The Big, Bad Bully, I am taking a week with my family to enjoy the beautiful, warm climate of an island get-a-way. It’s so important to work hard, but equally important to reward yourself and enjoy life, too.

We just missed an ice storm in Niagara, so I guess we timed it perfectly! We were actually at the airport, getting ready to fly out, when the ice storm hit the Niagara Region. Goodbye ice, hello sunny St. Maarten!

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Yesterday, I read my latest book, The Big, Bad Bully, to the children at Player Development. Player Development is a program started by Tom and Lisa Burnett. It started off focused on baseball development, but now also runs as a youth service organization. Besides teaching the children baseball skills after school, there is now help available with reading, writing, math and life skills. 

The children at Player Development have been reading my books since the start of my writing career. My first book, I CAN Believe in Myself, came out in 2013! That is 6 years now! They are wonderful supporters and always offer great feedback.

It was an honour to spend time there and to see the love that Tom and Lisa provide these children. As a fellow Rotarian it was great to hear how Player Development started an EarlyAct Club (sponsored by a local Rotary Club) and about their desire to be of service to others. I just love seeing how people are making a difference and making this world a better place.

I’ll be back in Niagara this weekend! I’m looking forward to getting ready for Christmas. I am sure the ice and snow will help bring on that christmas-sy mood. 

Hugs,

Miriam

We are giving away two $100 amazon gift cards via random draw for the first 100 reviews on Amazon of The Big, Bad Bully! I will be giving away two gift cards, one for amazon.ca and one for amazon.com. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO ENTER IS LEAVE A REVIEW. 

*You don’t need to have purchased your book through Amazon!* Amazon will still allow you to leave a review, as long as your amazon account is active and has made purchases in the last year. 

I am so excited to announce that you may be eligible for an author visit subsidy!

The Writer’s Union of Canada offers an author visit subsidy for eligible authors to visit schools! The application JUST opened today. Applications must be submitted between November 25, 2019 and January 27, 2020 for author visits booked after April 1st of this school year. (Applications for the following school year will be available later on)

To apply for subsidy and get the details click HERE.

Last week I was at a school presenting my new presentation for my latest book, The Big, Bad Bully. A school in Milton had me out for HDSB Bully Awareness Week. I love, love, LOVE sharing the empowering message with students and meeting the teachers who are making a difference! 

I have to say, this new presentation is a big hit, and because it is for grades 5-8, a full day author visit is perfect for hitting all the grades in an elementary school. I am happy to do one of my I CAN presentations for grades 1-4 and The Big, Bad Bully for grades 5-8. My full day author visits include four presentation time slots, so it’s nice to break up the grades for smaller groups and get maximum engagement.

If you want to book me for a date this school year after April 1st and take advantage of this sweet subsidy, shoot me an email. My team will pencil you in and ensure you get the date you want. 

To email me, reach out to team (at) miriamlaundry .com 

Hugs,

Miriam

FIVE PRESENTATIONS TO CHOOSE FROM

(Grades 5-8) The Big, Bad Bully – A bully story with a twist! Follow a young girl who struggles throughout grade school with a bully. Every day she hears her flaws pointed out. Finally, she decides to stand up to her tormentor and discovers…. it is herself! This is not a book about the bully sitting beside you in class, but the bully living in your head. Hear the gasps as students realize the twist, and discover how to turn their inner critic into your their friend! 

(Grades 1-6) I CAN Believe in Myself – Molly avoids being the star of the day. She just CAN'T speak in front of the class …. or CAN she? Discover how she learns to shred her I CAN'T and change it to I CAN!

(Grades 1-6) I CAN Make a Difference – Andy struggles to think of a way to make a difference when he is challenged with a school project and loses the money for it! Does he need that money or can he make a difference with his Time, Treasures, or Talents? Andy discovers the power to make a difference is within him.

(Grades 1-6) I CAN Be Me – Maria is embarrassed when a classmate makes fun of her lunch. She wishes she could fit in, but soon discovers that everybody is a little different. She finds out the most important thing is to BE YOU!

(Grades 7&8) The Power of Your Mind – This presentation is not based on a picture book, but rather uses exercises and powerful examples to engage older students. Miriam engages the students using a visual presentation peppered with activities. Students are challenged to transition to a growth mindset through the topics of:

• Persistance and Overcoming Obstacles
• Action + Attitude = Achievement
• Three Things we CAN control: Thoughts, Imagery, and Behaviour
• Taking Responsibility
• Thinking BIGGER

It was seven years ago when I first started writing and set out to publish my first children’s book. I learned so much, but looking back there is one thing I wish I would have had. 

I would have given anything to have a writing mentor! 

Somebody who knew the ins and outs of publishing and could help me navigate the many, MANY decisions that would come. The expert advice of someone who had done it before would have helped me avoid so many mistakes and save so much money!

Now that I have received so much wonderful success, I want to be sure that any aspiring authors have access to something I did not: a publishing mentorship.

I have created a program called the Publishing Mastermind. It’s a ten month mentorship where I help you go from rough draft to a finished product. My company, Laundry Books, publishes your children's book within the year, and you get access to everything I have learned. 

I will take care of the editing and make sure your book looks amazing. You retain all the rights to your book, all the profits, AND you join five other authors in a Mastermind Group for support. It’s everything I wanted when I was starting out (and more!) 

I am accepting six authors for the mentorship, and with three spots already taken, I am making my final decisions in the next couple of weeks.

I am looking for empowering stories! Books for children that have a great message to them. If you have a children's book you want published, shoot me an email and let’s set up a time to talk. I would love to hear your story and help make it a reality! Your book in your hands before the end of 2020!

A final thought: if you aren’t looking to publish, but know someone this is perfect for, please forward this email to them! If there is one thing I have learned, it’s that there are many people out there with amazing stories that need to be heard. 

Hugs,

Miriam

Want to talk? Reach out to my team : team(at)miriamlaundry(dot)com

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind! I thought you might enjoy some pictures from my travels while I was promoting The Big, Bad Bully with Jack, and from my journey. The idea for The Big Bad, Bully starting back in 2015, and culminated in the launch of the book last week. 

2015
In the beginning, The Big Bad Bully was just a dream. I had the idea, but I wanted to co-author it with Jack Canfield, so I put it on my vision board. I took a picture that I had of us with my first book, and cut out a picture of The Big Bad Bully, and combined them. I look at this picture now and think “what a bad mock-up”, but it served it’s purpose. 

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2017 – I had the idea for the story. I had been inspired by my daughter to use the idea of “bullying yourself” and had used it to write a Toastmasters speech. Now I had the opportunity to present it as “The Bully in the Mirror” in a TEDx talk to students at Eden High School.

2018 – Signed a publishing deal with HCI Books for The Big, Bad, Bully!

2019 – The Big Bad Bully is finally a reality. We had such an awesome time signing an advanced shipment of books at three different book signings: St. Catharines, Toronto, and Salt Lake City. It was really wonderful to spend some time with everyone who came out. Catching up with long-time supporters and meeting new fans with Jack….. a dream come true. 

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Radio and TV interviews! Getting the word out about The Big, Bad Bully!

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Book Launch Day! We received over-whelming support of people sharing the book and buying online. We are so excited that the message is getting out! Thank you for sharing and helping to spread the word!

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The Virtual Book Reading! Everyone who purchased copies of The Big, Bad Bully got access to a live reading plus self-esteem building exercises with Jack and I. The really cool thing was seeing so many classrooms and schools participate and from all over the world too! We had people sign up from Bolivia, Sweden, New Zealand and of course Canada and the USA.

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Thank you for all that you do in helping to spread this important message. Every child (and adult) needs to be kind to themselves. 

I feel your love, and your wonderful support through this journey. It truly was a dream come true. Patience and perseverance certainly played their part. I wasn’t worried that it took four years to come to bear. I knew it would happen. 

One of the coolest things was being able to hang out with Jack for about a week, to spend time working together and to see a master at work.

If you purchased a copy of The Big, Bad Bully please leave a review on Amazon if you have’t already. I am running a give-away for a $100 Amazon gift card (on both amazon.ca and amazon.com). The first 100 reviews get entered to win! Jack is away on vacation right now. I want to have a surprise for him with a tsunami of reviews for when he gets back. Before he left, I know he was reading every review. 

A BIG thank you, again, for your help in spreading the message of The Big, Bad Bully. 

Hugs,

Miriam

The Big, Bad Bully – Book Reading and Self- Esteem Building Exercises

This is a recording of the virtual book reading that was live on October 30, 2019. THANK YOU to everyone who was able to participate LIVE, and for sharing this message with the children in your life. Join authors Jack Canfield and Miriam Laundry as they read the book and go over self-esteem building exercises. The following can be found at the times listed below:

• Reading of the story of the The Big, Bad Bully (0:00-9:25 min)
• Recognizing your Inner Bully (9:25 – 10:54)
• The Mirror Exercise – participation friendly (10:55 – 18:52)
• Changing “I CAN'T” to “I CAN” (18:53-22:10)
• Affirmations exercise – participation friendly (22:10 – 27:30)
• Acrostic poem with your name (27:30 – 29:00)
• Guided Visualization (29:00 – 35:00)
• Vision Boards (35:00 – 39:18)
• Q&A (39:18 – 56:00)

Book Description

This picture book is a gripping story of a young girl who is bullied year after year, struggling with self-esteem. But when she decides to stand up to her tormentor, what she discovers is truly eye-opening. The bully she confronts is herself!

The Big, Bad Bully is a tremendous tool for helping children become aware of their thoughts and it includes powerful workbook exercises and resources for implementing healthy self-esteem habits that will last a lifetime.

• Ages: grade 3-8
• Authors: Jack Canfield & Miriam Laundry
• Illustrator: Eva Morales
• Publisher: HCI Books

It's exactly seven more days until my new book launches! I am so excited, busy, nervous, and calm all at the same time. I didn’t know it was possible, but apparently it is. 

This book has been a few years in the making and it all started when I hit on an amazing way of making my own daughter aware of how her thought life was directly related to her self-esteem. Pointing out her positive qualities and saying that she shouldn’t speak to herself in such a negative way just blew right past her, but showing her that she was bullying herself struck home. 

That's when I decided to write The Big, Bad Bully. The more I shared the concept of this book, the more feedback I got about people relating to it, whether children or adults. Here is what Ashley, Grade 8, said when I read the book to her class:

“I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulder. It was so meaningful and very true about hearing that voice and feeling like you have to listen to it. I also feel like I'm not the only (one) who hears that voice and listens to it. It was unique and different. I loved everything about this book.”

Ashley, Grade 8

The Big, Bad Bullyis a bully story with a twist. It follows a young girl who struggles with being put down by a bully for many years, but then she decides to stand up to her tormentor. The twist happens when she confronts the bully, she is looking in a mirror and realizes it's herself. The book includes self-esteem building exercises as well, making it a perfect conversation starter for mental health.

Kids in grades 3-8 will get the most out of it, and it is coming out NEXT WEEK.

We all have that inner critic that whispers in our ear:

• “I’m such an idiot…”
• “I should have known…”
• “I always mess things up…”
• “I’m too (insert adjective)…..”

Do any of those things sound familiar?

The words that we say to ourselves shape us. I shared before how my daughter inspired me to write The Big, Bad Bully when I saw her saying negative things to herself in the mirror. When I saw that she needed help changing her inner dialogue I taught her the Mirror Exercise that I learned from Jack Canfield. It has made a big impact on how she talks to herself. 

The mirror exercise is pretty straightforward:

1. First, you stand in front of a mirror and say your name.
2. Then you appreciate yourself. You mention your accomplishments, successes, risks taken, disciplines kept and temptations resisted. 
3. You finish your appreciation by telling yourself “I love you,”
4. And lastly, take it in by taking a long deep breath.

Making this a habit is guaranteed to transform that inner critic into an inner coach. My daughter has been doing it for a while now, and I love seeing how it keeps her motivated and positive. 

Just this past summer, I came back from a trip and was re-connecting with the kids in the van. I was asking them what kind of snacks we should get on the way home, and one of my daughters said “Do you know what I want? I want to look at myself in the mirror and be happy with myself.” She was talking about later that evening when she would be doing the mirror exercise and going over “temptations resisted.” She wanted to make a choice that she could feel good about later. 

Whether we are aware of it or not, we have the capacity to be our best coach, or our worst critic.

I really encourage you to take the 40 day challenge and resolve to do The Mirror Exercise every day for forty days! It is amazing the difference it will make in your habits and in your self esteem. If you think 40 days is a lot, I know somebody who has been doing the mirror exercise for 2786 days (the last time I saw her).

I added The Mirror Exercise to The Big, Bad Bully because it is so important to start these things young. If you are taking the challenge or going to go over it with your kids, I have a free download available if you want to print it. I find it a great reminder when it is taped to your bathroom mirror. 

If you want to watch a tutorial of The Mirror Exercise, my co-author Jack Canfield and I are have a recording of an online book reading that includes self-esteem building exercises.

If you want us to send you the the link to the Virtual Book Reading of The Big, Bad Bully sign up below!