Linda O'Connor's Blog, page 3
November 24, 2015
Perfectly Planned is launched!
Perfectly Planned is available for your e-reader on amazon.com and amazon.ca!! You can contact me if you would like a print copy.
HUGE THANKS to everyone who joined in the celebration of the countdown and supported me in all 3 books this year! It's been a whirlwind, but I wouldn't have had the fun or success without the love and support of my friends and family. From hanging out at the Perfectly Honest launch party, liking and sharing stuff on Facebook and twitter, writing guest posts for me on my website, visiting my website, buying, reading and reviewing my books . . . the list goes on. I can't express my thanks enough to each of you - you've given me your time and made me laugh. I'm very, very grateful for all of it.
So put your feet up, crack open Perfectly Planned and take a break on me (tell anyone who bugs you it was doctor's orders)!!
Most importantly - Laugh every day. Love every minute.
Linda
November 19, 2015
Perfectly Honest $0.99 until Nov. 22!
Perfectly Honest (Perfectly Series Bk 1) - $0.99 sale until Nov.22!
You never know where your words will take you...
When Mikaela Finn agreed to be Sam's ‘fiancée' for a weekend, she probably should have told him that she's a doctor.
Sam O'Brien, aka ‘Dr. Eye Candy', is trying to shed his playboy reputation and convince a small town hospital that he's ready to settle down. But when his ‘fiancée' helps deliver a baby in the middle of the meet and greet, it's a bit of a shock. If he'd known the whole truth, he might have done things a little differently because somehow his ‘fiancée' ends up stealing his job and his heart. Not exactly the change he wanted. Lies and deceit – it's a match made in heaven!
Buy link: amazon.com
You never know where your words will take you...
When Mikaela Finn agreed to be Sam's ‘fiancée' for a weekend, she probably should have told him that she's a doctor.
Sam O'Brien, aka ‘Dr. Eye Candy', is trying to shed his playboy reputation and convince a small town hospital that he's ready to settle down. But when his ‘fiancée' helps deliver a baby in the middle of the meet and greet, it's a bit of a shock. If he'd known the whole truth, he might have done things a little differently because somehow his ‘fiancée' ends up stealing his job and his heart. Not exactly the change he wanted. Lies and deceit – it's a match made in heaven!
Buy link: amazon.com
November 1, 2015
Perfectly Honest is a semi-finalist!
Thought I was done with asking for votes for the 2015 AUTHORSdb Cover Contest!! Nope. Perfectly Honest is 1 of 3 semi-finalists in the Humorous Category. Woohoo! HERE'S the link to vote. Voting for the semi-final round ends November 5th. :D
September 5, 2015
Cover Contest 2015
Perfectly Honest is in the running for the authorsDB Cover Contest - Humorous category! I'd love your vote!! You don't need to sign in or have an account to vote :)
Vote here:
http://authorsdb.com/2015-cover-contest-results/17934-perfectly-honest
Vote here:
http://authorsdb.com/2015-cover-contest-results/17934-perfectly-honest
July 28, 2015
Medical Conferences vs Writing Conferences
I’ve just returned from my very first writing conference – the RWA Nationals in New York City – what a blast! Over 2000 romance authors and industry professionals get together once a year for a week to network, share their craft and marketing strategies, and most of all – make new friends! I’ve been to quite a few medical conferences in my career and I have to say there are some very subtle but noticeable differences.
First off – the prep. There was a lot of prep for a writing conference. We were given a link to a video showing how and what to pack (colour coordination and rolling all your clothes is key), on how to use the elevator at the hotel (no buttons inside the elevator – you had to punch your floor in the box before you got on AND wait for it – remember which elevator you were assigned – because you know, no buttons in the elevator) and were given advice for socializing for introverts (say hi, ask where they’re from and what they write. Yes, we were given icebreaker question suggestions – these are my people). We were told to set goals and plan – but no worries we were also given an app for that! I think if doctors were told they had to plan this much for a conference, they would give up. Writers are a hardy lot.
Second off – the parking. Here in Kingston, at the conference centre, we park outdoors on a paved lot. Occasionally if it’s really busy, there might be overflow onto the adjacent grass. THIS is what the parking looked like in NYC. It’s like a vending machine for cars. I’ll take F5 – a new black Porsche. (And maybe if I bang on the machine, 2 cars might fall out?)
Third – the workshops. No signing up, feel free to change your mind, the presenters don’t mind if you walk out, workshops. Golden. This isn’t very common at medical conferences. We tend to stay put – physically anyway. I’ve plotted some very interesting novels at medical conferences :)
Fourth – the pitch sessions. What a great idea! At the Nationals, authors have a chance to pitch their ideas to editors and agents to see if they’re interested in publishing the story or representing the author to the publishing houses. I think this could really catch on in the medical world. One big room filled with scientists and those people who have the grant money. It’d be like speed dating. Before the researcher spends countless hours preparing a cumbersome proposal, they could take 10 minutes to pitch their ideas and see if there is any interest. Wouldn’t that be such a time saver? Writers know what they’re doing.
Despite the differences, I did notice one very striking similarity. The coffee consumption! :) Stay tuned – I met some awesome Soul Mate authors and I’ll share the pics!
First off – the prep. There was a lot of prep for a writing conference. We were given a link to a video showing how and what to pack (colour coordination and rolling all your clothes is key), on how to use the elevator at the hotel (no buttons inside the elevator – you had to punch your floor in the box before you got on AND wait for it – remember which elevator you were assigned – because you know, no buttons in the elevator) and were given advice for socializing for introverts (say hi, ask where they’re from and what they write. Yes, we were given icebreaker question suggestions – these are my people). We were told to set goals and plan – but no worries we were also given an app for that! I think if doctors were told they had to plan this much for a conference, they would give up. Writers are a hardy lot.
Second off – the parking. Here in Kingston, at the conference centre, we park outdoors on a paved lot. Occasionally if it’s really busy, there might be overflow onto the adjacent grass. THIS is what the parking looked like in NYC. It’s like a vending machine for cars. I’ll take F5 – a new black Porsche. (And maybe if I bang on the machine, 2 cars might fall out?)Third – the workshops. No signing up, feel free to change your mind, the presenters don’t mind if you walk out, workshops. Golden. This isn’t very common at medical conferences. We tend to stay put – physically anyway. I’ve plotted some very interesting novels at medical conferences :)
Fourth – the pitch sessions. What a great idea! At the Nationals, authors have a chance to pitch their ideas to editors and agents to see if they’re interested in publishing the story or representing the author to the publishing houses. I think this could really catch on in the medical world. One big room filled with scientists and those people who have the grant money. It’d be like speed dating. Before the researcher spends countless hours preparing a cumbersome proposal, they could take 10 minutes to pitch their ideas and see if there is any interest. Wouldn’t that be such a time saver? Writers know what they’re doing.
Despite the differences, I did notice one very striking similarity. The coffee consumption! :) Stay tuned – I met some awesome Soul Mate authors and I’ll share the pics!
June 2, 2015
Author Spotlight - CD Hersh!
I’d like to welcome authors C.D. Hersh today. They are a husband and wife duo and fellow Soul Mate Publishing authors!
Meet Catherine and Donald ~Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after.
Together they have co-authored a number of dramas, six which have been produced in Ohio, where they live. Their interactive Christmas production had five seasonal runs in their hometown and has been sold in Virginia, California, and Ohio. Their most recent collaborative writing efforts have been focused on romance. The first three books of their paranormal romance series entitled The Turning Stone Chronicles are available on Amazon.
Double the success together :D What song would be your theme song? The theme song that describes our relationship would be the golden oldie “Side By Side” sung by Pat & Shirley Boone. You can hear it HERE.
Lovely! What would you pick as a superpower? Donald would want to fly like superman, not like some of our characters who have to change into hawks. Catherine would like super speed so she could clean the house really quick.
I like that – it would leave more time for writing! What’s your favorite dessert? Watermelon for Donald, chocolate anything for Catherine.
Yum! Catherine and Donald, can you tell us how you planned your series, The Turning Stone Chronicles? CD: We are sure there are many other ways to go about this process. This is working for us.
In writing the series, The Turning Stone Chronicles, we started with the series title, which we took from a road sign while traveling. Then we just talked about what we could do with the name. Catherine always likes to start with a title and blurb. So we created those first. Since we were creating a new world with shifters that didn’t fit into the established shifter genre, we started keeping track of things in what we call a world book. Shifting rules, what characters abilities were, research about things like auras, hawk vision (because one of our characters is a hawk), character sheets, plot lines, and scenes became part of the book so we could stay consistent through the six-book series.
Story consistency for us, however varies, because the series has gone from six to five to six books as original plot lines have not worked and new characters appeared on the pages wanting their own story. In fact, the fourth book in the series, currently being written, ended up with a major overhaul when the original heroine got bumped by a character who appeared in Son of the Moonless Night.
Some advice we have for authors planning to write a series is:
Think about how the current story impacts the stories you have planned. Not thinking the series through completely can paint you into a corner.
If characters carry over through the stories be sure to have character sheets on them to keep them consistent in physical attributes, speech, and mannerisms.
If you don’t do a synopsis for each story at least have a longer blurb to help you remember where your series is going.
If the series occurs in a single location, put together a map so street names remain the same and run in the same direction. We had to draw a map of one location as we didn’t agree on how it looked.
Does anyone else have advice for authors planning to write a series?
I think it’s interesting how a series can change as the stories are written. Somehting similar happened to me as I wrote the Perfectly series and Book 2 ended up being a prequel instead of a sequel! Tell us about your books.
Son of the Moonless Night, The Turning Stone Chronicles, book three, is an Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Suspense Romance.
Owen Todd Jordan Riley has a secret. He’s a shape shifter who has been hunting and killing his own kind. To him the only good shifter is a dead shifter. Revenge for the death of a friend motivates him, and nothing stands in his way . . . except Katrina Romanovski, the woman he is falling in love with.
Deputy coroner Katrina Romanovski has a secret, too. She hunts and kills paranormal beings like Owen. At least she did. When she rescues Owen from an attack by a werebear she is thrust back into the world she thought she’d left. Determined to find out what Owen knows about the bear, she begins a relationship meant to collect information. What she gets is something quite different-love with a man she suspects of murder. Can she reconcile his deception and murderous revenge spree and find a way to redeem him? Or will she condemn him for the same things she has done and walk away from love?
You can buy it HERE.
The Promised One, The Turning Stone Chronicles, book one.
When homicide detective Alexi Jordan is forced to use her shape shifting powers to catch a paranormal killer, she risks the two most important things in her life—her badge and the man she loves.
You can buy it HERE.
Blood Brothers, The Turning Stone Chronicles, book two.
Shape shifter Delaney Ramsey’s daughter is missing, and she is bound by honor to protect the man she suspects of the deed. To bring him to justice, she must go against her code, the leader of the secret shifter society, and the police captain she is falling for.
You can buy it HERE.
Thank you very much for dropping by. Good luck with the series- the stories sound intriguing! If you'd like to connect with CD, here's how ~
Website: http://cdhersh.wordpress.com/
Blog: http://cdhersh.wordpress.com/blog-2/
Soul Mate Publishing: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cdhershauthor
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/C.-D.-Hersh/e/B00DV5L7ZI
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCDHersh
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CDHersh
Meet Catherine and Donald ~Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after.Together they have co-authored a number of dramas, six which have been produced in Ohio, where they live. Their interactive Christmas production had five seasonal runs in their hometown and has been sold in Virginia, California, and Ohio. Their most recent collaborative writing efforts have been focused on romance. The first three books of their paranormal romance series entitled The Turning Stone Chronicles are available on Amazon.
Double the success together :D What song would be your theme song? The theme song that describes our relationship would be the golden oldie “Side By Side” sung by Pat & Shirley Boone. You can hear it HERE.
Lovely! What would you pick as a superpower? Donald would want to fly like superman, not like some of our characters who have to change into hawks. Catherine would like super speed so she could clean the house really quick.
I like that – it would leave more time for writing! What’s your favorite dessert? Watermelon for Donald, chocolate anything for Catherine.
Yum! Catherine and Donald, can you tell us how you planned your series, The Turning Stone Chronicles? CD: We are sure there are many other ways to go about this process. This is working for us.
In writing the series, The Turning Stone Chronicles, we started with the series title, which we took from a road sign while traveling. Then we just talked about what we could do with the name. Catherine always likes to start with a title and blurb. So we created those first. Since we were creating a new world with shifters that didn’t fit into the established shifter genre, we started keeping track of things in what we call a world book. Shifting rules, what characters abilities were, research about things like auras, hawk vision (because one of our characters is a hawk), character sheets, plot lines, and scenes became part of the book so we could stay consistent through the six-book series.
Story consistency for us, however varies, because the series has gone from six to five to six books as original plot lines have not worked and new characters appeared on the pages wanting their own story. In fact, the fourth book in the series, currently being written, ended up with a major overhaul when the original heroine got bumped by a character who appeared in Son of the Moonless Night.
Some advice we have for authors planning to write a series is:
Think about how the current story impacts the stories you have planned. Not thinking the series through completely can paint you into a corner.
If characters carry over through the stories be sure to have character sheets on them to keep them consistent in physical attributes, speech, and mannerisms.
If you don’t do a synopsis for each story at least have a longer blurb to help you remember where your series is going.
If the series occurs in a single location, put together a map so street names remain the same and run in the same direction. We had to draw a map of one location as we didn’t agree on how it looked.
Does anyone else have advice for authors planning to write a series?
I think it’s interesting how a series can change as the stories are written. Somehting similar happened to me as I wrote the Perfectly series and Book 2 ended up being a prequel instead of a sequel! Tell us about your books.
Son of the Moonless Night, The Turning Stone Chronicles, book three, is an Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Suspense Romance. Owen Todd Jordan Riley has a secret. He’s a shape shifter who has been hunting and killing his own kind. To him the only good shifter is a dead shifter. Revenge for the death of a friend motivates him, and nothing stands in his way . . . except Katrina Romanovski, the woman he is falling in love with.
Deputy coroner Katrina Romanovski has a secret, too. She hunts and kills paranormal beings like Owen. At least she did. When she rescues Owen from an attack by a werebear she is thrust back into the world she thought she’d left. Determined to find out what Owen knows about the bear, she begins a relationship meant to collect information. What she gets is something quite different-love with a man she suspects of murder. Can she reconcile his deception and murderous revenge spree and find a way to redeem him? Or will she condemn him for the same things she has done and walk away from love?
You can buy it HERE.
The Promised One, The Turning Stone Chronicles, book one.
When homicide detective Alexi Jordan is forced to use her shape shifting powers to catch a paranormal killer, she risks the two most important things in her life—her badge and the man she loves.
You can buy it HERE.
Blood Brothers, The Turning Stone Chronicles, book two. Shape shifter Delaney Ramsey’s daughter is missing, and she is bound by honor to protect the man she suspects of the deed. To bring him to justice, she must go against her code, the leader of the secret shifter society, and the police captain she is falling for.
You can buy it HERE.
Thank you very much for dropping by. Good luck with the series- the stories sound intriguing! If you'd like to connect with CD, here's how ~
Website: http://cdhersh.wordpress.com/
Blog: http://cdhersh.wordpress.com/blog-2/
Soul Mate Publishing: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cdhershauthor
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/C.-D.-Hersh/e/B00DV5L7ZI
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCDHersh
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CDHersh
May 24, 2015
Author Spotlight - Iris Wynne!
It is my pleasure to welcome Iris Wynne today! She's celebrating the release of her debut novel on May 27, 2015. It's a cozy mystery called The Missing Mah Jongg Player! And she's from Toronto!
Meet Iris - Iris Wynne is a book lover, a day dreamer and a hopeless romantic. She is a writer of cozy mysteries with an element of romance. She is a mother of two girls and in her spare time she dog walks, plays golf in the summer and of course grabs a game of Mah Jongg whenever she can.
What song would be your theme song? I: My song would be ‘Storybook Love’ from the Princess Bride movie. The words and music are beautiful and clarifies what it is truly like to be in love. Of course, you’re talking to a hopeless romantic writer.
Lovely! What you pick as a super power? I: I would like to be invisible so I could be a fly on the wall. Pick up some interesting conversations—for a book perhaps?
Haha – you need to be careful with that though – you never know where your words (or someone else’s) will take you! What’s your favourite desert? I: My favourite desert is chocolate cake. But I like chocolate cake made with milk chocolate icing the old fashion way.
Yum! Tell us about your debut novel (so exciting!) – The Missing Mah Jongg Player
Steve Wade is an ex cop with an ex-wife and girlfriends he could never commit to. Now he’s a private investigator known for his knack in solving crimes.
This handsome private eye never has a problem finding clients. His newest case involves five frantic Mah Jongg players who are in search of one of their players who disappeared after meeting a man on an online dating site.
Steve Wade is reluctant to take the case. He believes she is just another woman not wanting to be found. But the women are insistent that their missing Mah Jongg player did not vanish on her own. In the meantime, they organize a Valentine’s speed dating gig inviting all the suspects who dated Marilou Dickson, the missing Mah Jongg player, in an attempt to find out what happened to her.
As he watches the dinner play out he begins to realize she may not have gone willingly when all the suspects are presented before him. He even hires his sometime drop dead gorgeous girlfriend for the event to lure the culprit out into the open. Steve just hopes no one goes home with a potential killer.
He has to work fast when the case begins to unravel as lies and betrayal become evident and the truth of what happened to the missing player becomes clear. Will he be able to find the suspect before they choose another victim? This may be his biggest challenge yet.
The story sounds great and I’d like to learn more about Mah Jongg :) Thank you so much for stopping by and good luck with your first book!!
Connect with Iris ~
Iris Wynne's blog Twitter Facebook
Meet Iris - Iris Wynne is a book lover, a day dreamer and a hopeless romantic. She is a writer of cozy mysteries with an element of romance. She is a mother of two girls and in her spare time she dog walks, plays golf in the summer and of course grabs a game of Mah Jongg whenever she can.What song would be your theme song? I: My song would be ‘Storybook Love’ from the Princess Bride movie. The words and music are beautiful and clarifies what it is truly like to be in love. Of course, you’re talking to a hopeless romantic writer.
Lovely! What you pick as a super power? I: I would like to be invisible so I could be a fly on the wall. Pick up some interesting conversations—for a book perhaps?
Haha – you need to be careful with that though – you never know where your words (or someone else’s) will take you! What’s your favourite desert? I: My favourite desert is chocolate cake. But I like chocolate cake made with milk chocolate icing the old fashion way.
Yum! Tell us about your debut novel (so exciting!) – The Missing Mah Jongg Player
Steve Wade is an ex cop with an ex-wife and girlfriends he could never commit to. Now he’s a private investigator known for his knack in solving crimes.This handsome private eye never has a problem finding clients. His newest case involves five frantic Mah Jongg players who are in search of one of their players who disappeared after meeting a man on an online dating site.
Steve Wade is reluctant to take the case. He believes she is just another woman not wanting to be found. But the women are insistent that their missing Mah Jongg player did not vanish on her own. In the meantime, they organize a Valentine’s speed dating gig inviting all the suspects who dated Marilou Dickson, the missing Mah Jongg player, in an attempt to find out what happened to her.
As he watches the dinner play out he begins to realize she may not have gone willingly when all the suspects are presented before him. He even hires his sometime drop dead gorgeous girlfriend for the event to lure the culprit out into the open. Steve just hopes no one goes home with a potential killer.
He has to work fast when the case begins to unravel as lies and betrayal become evident and the truth of what happened to the missing player becomes clear. Will he be able to find the suspect before they choose another victim? This may be his biggest challenge yet.
The story sounds great and I’d like to learn more about Mah Jongg :) Thank you so much for stopping by and good luck with your first book!!
Connect with Iris ~
Iris Wynne's blog Twitter Facebook
May 18, 2015
I'm on the radio - CFRC 101.9fm May 19 5pm
Tune in for the second part of my radio interview Tuesday May 19 at 5pm on CFRC Radio 101.9fm! Find out how I set up a story and my advice for new writers. Tune in or stream it live at www.cfrc.ca.
May 14, 2015
Sharing the Awesome - Dedicated Physiotherapist Lin Arthur!
My life is filled with love and laughter thanks to the amazing people I get to hang out with. As well as being awesome, they’re creative, talented, generous, and fun! I thought you might like to meet them so I’ve asked them to come and give us a behind-the-scenes look at what they’re passionate about. I have to warn you though – creativity is contagious!
My guest today is Lin Arthur, compassionate and caring pediatric physiotherapist! Lin’s dedication and extensive experience are invaluable to children and families coping with developmental disabilities.
Lin, how did you become interested in working with children in the field of physiotherapy? L: When I was a physiotherapy student, I did a summer internship at Sick Kids in Toronto on the neurosurgical unit. I loved working with the kids and part of that work included outpatient treatment for children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, spina bifida and muscular dystrophy. I really enjoyed that population and after graduation, decided to focus my career on treatment for children with developmental disabilities. Working with infants is my favourite!
I always find it so interesting how a placement or volunteer experience can influence what we choose to do. What does your work entail? L: Physiotherapy for children involves treatment of the child (birth to teens) as well as education and support for the family and/or other care providers. Although I chose to concentrate on developmental disabilities, physiotherapy for children is similar to that needed by adults with a little extra twist of family issues and growth and developmental milestones to consider. We look at the physical challenges - gross motor development, posture, balance, range of motion, muscle tone, respiratory status, cardiovascular status; a child’s progress relative to typical development and how any challenges might impact function. The family and I decide what our shared focus will be and create a pathway to achieve our goals. Perhaps an example would be helpful.
Ivy was sent to me at 5 months of age. There were concerns about her development. She was an irritable infant who was unable to do things a child of her age should do such as rolling over, sitting with support, getting her hands together to play with a toy, or propping on her arms from lying on her belly. She had trouble swallowing properly, was fussy, arched and frequently choked during feeding. Her mother was upset and very worried about how to nurture this little one.
I started my first session by playing with Ivy on her mother’s lap, building her and her mother’s trust in me. I watched how Ivy moved while chatting with her mom and playing with the baby. It was clear that Ivy lacked the robust quality, variety and fluidity of movement normally seen at 5 months. Babies are rarely still and Ivy was very limited in her spontaneous leg movement. Eventually, Ivy allowed me to touch her legs and as she cooperated, I checked her range of motion and muscle tone. There were limitations about her hips and ankles. Her muscle tone was high in her legs but not throughout her body. She also had difficulty holding her head up as she sat on her mom’s lap.
On her belly, she couldn’t raise her head or get her hands underneath to help her move. On her back, she couldn’t kick her legs off the supporting surface and didn’t explore her body as 5 month olds do - finding their bellies, touching their hands and mouths, reaching for their hips and knees. She had difficulty reaching for a toy. Without a strong core to stabilize her, Ivy couldn’t demonstrate age-appropriate gross motor skills.
Her mom and I talked about what was most important to her. The number one concern was for Ivy to take her feeds easily and effectively, so that became our focus.
In order to swallow, the head and neck must be properly aligned. In babies who have weak cores, it’s common for them to compensate: raise the shoulder girdles, extend the neck and rest the head on the raised shoulders. It is very difficult to swallow with the neck in an extended position as the airway is opened and children choke easily. No wonder Ivy was irritable, arched away from her mother and fed poorly! We used a variety of different ways to position Ivy, support her head in better alignment and found some options that worked for her mom while she fed her.
I remained concerned about the tightness in Ivy’s legs and feet so I taught her mom different ways to hold Ivy, move her joints, and position Ivy so that we could increase her range of motion and improve her mobility. To give her mom some alternatives, we used a variety of adapted equipment. By improving her alignment and giving her support, it decreased the tone in her legs and activated her trunk muscles. She could hold her head up and she could play with less frustration. Ivy was a happier baby!
Her mom had some great questions about appropriate toys. We decided to involve Early Intervention home educators now that we had equipment and strategies in place to help with Ivy’s play time. The home teachers are a wonderful community resource for children who have identified delays. They are experts in the development of play, have positioning equipment to lend and have a toy lending library. The teachers make regular home visits and upgrade equipment and toys as needed at no cost to families.
As Ivy grew, I continued my involvement and adapted her treatment to her and the family’s needs. Ivy progressed though development slowly but eventually used a supportive walker, wore braces to align her feet and had a wheelchair for distance mobility.
In summary, physiotherapy for children requires a working knowledge of several systems: typical and atypical development, the musculoskeletal system, the neurological system, an understanding how children play at different ages and an empathetic understanding of basic parenting - dressing, feeding, cleaning and moving children. The best outcomes happen when therapists, collaborating with occupational therapists, speech therapists, dieticians, educators, and medical practitioners, support the family.
Wow – so much to consider, especially when they can’t tell you what’s wrong. Do you have any advice for parents? L: Play is very important and should be a priority in the day. Fun is important. Make therapy fun. Let your baby play on his or her stomach. Crying is a part of baby’s communication with us and there are different cries that tell us what a child needs - hunger cry, tired cry, scared cry, pain cry and discomfort (cold, frustration etc). In my opinion, crying need not be a regular occurrence in good physiotherapy treatment. There are times when crying is unavoidable such as following surgery or during casting however, crying during regular therapy should be the exception and not the rule.
Play is good for adults too! (Hopefully no crying though) If someone is interested in a career in physiotherapy, what’s involved? L: PT is a post-graduate university degree in Canada and the U.S. at a Master’s or Doctorate level. The best idea is to contact the various schools and see what they require. The requirements can be quite different. In addition to academic requirements, most also require community service and first-hand experience with the field such as being a volunteer or being a recipient of therapy, in order to apply.
Make sure it’s what you thought it would be! You obviously have a tremendous passion for your work. What do you love most about it? L: I love that I have to use all of myself at work- my scientific brain as well as my creative-intuitive brain; my body because I am constantly moving or moving others; use my sense of humour and sense of play. A good pediatric therapist is able to put everything together with a song and a smile. Best of all, I got to laugh every day!
Art and science together J What would you pick as your superpower? L:I would want to be able to manipulate time and space. Wouldn’t it be cool to travel anywhere at any period in time? It’s a marvellous world to explore!
It is! Lin thank you so much for sharing your insight into the world of pediatric physiotherapy. It’s a fascinating field and I imagine with each patient you have to approach what you do and how you interact completely differently. That would make for an interesting variety! And you heard what she said, everyone, get out there and play!
My guest today is Lin Arthur, compassionate and caring pediatric physiotherapist! Lin’s dedication and extensive experience are invaluable to children and families coping with developmental disabilities.
Lin, how did you become interested in working with children in the field of physiotherapy? L: When I was a physiotherapy student, I did a summer internship at Sick Kids in Toronto on the neurosurgical unit. I loved working with the kids and part of that work included outpatient treatment for children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, spina bifida and muscular dystrophy. I really enjoyed that population and after graduation, decided to focus my career on treatment for children with developmental disabilities. Working with infants is my favourite!I always find it so interesting how a placement or volunteer experience can influence what we choose to do. What does your work entail? L: Physiotherapy for children involves treatment of the child (birth to teens) as well as education and support for the family and/or other care providers. Although I chose to concentrate on developmental disabilities, physiotherapy for children is similar to that needed by adults with a little extra twist of family issues and growth and developmental milestones to consider. We look at the physical challenges - gross motor development, posture, balance, range of motion, muscle tone, respiratory status, cardiovascular status; a child’s progress relative to typical development and how any challenges might impact function. The family and I decide what our shared focus will be and create a pathway to achieve our goals. Perhaps an example would be helpful.
Ivy was sent to me at 5 months of age. There were concerns about her development. She was an irritable infant who was unable to do things a child of her age should do such as rolling over, sitting with support, getting her hands together to play with a toy, or propping on her arms from lying on her belly. She had trouble swallowing properly, was fussy, arched and frequently choked during feeding. Her mother was upset and very worried about how to nurture this little one.
I started my first session by playing with Ivy on her mother’s lap, building her and her mother’s trust in me. I watched how Ivy moved while chatting with her mom and playing with the baby. It was clear that Ivy lacked the robust quality, variety and fluidity of movement normally seen at 5 months. Babies are rarely still and Ivy was very limited in her spontaneous leg movement. Eventually, Ivy allowed me to touch her legs and as she cooperated, I checked her range of motion and muscle tone. There were limitations about her hips and ankles. Her muscle tone was high in her legs but not throughout her body. She also had difficulty holding her head up as she sat on her mom’s lap.
On her belly, she couldn’t raise her head or get her hands underneath to help her move. On her back, she couldn’t kick her legs off the supporting surface and didn’t explore her body as 5 month olds do - finding their bellies, touching their hands and mouths, reaching for their hips and knees. She had difficulty reaching for a toy. Without a strong core to stabilize her, Ivy couldn’t demonstrate age-appropriate gross motor skills.
Her mom and I talked about what was most important to her. The number one concern was for Ivy to take her feeds easily and effectively, so that became our focus.
In order to swallow, the head and neck must be properly aligned. In babies who have weak cores, it’s common for them to compensate: raise the shoulder girdles, extend the neck and rest the head on the raised shoulders. It is very difficult to swallow with the neck in an extended position as the airway is opened and children choke easily. No wonder Ivy was irritable, arched away from her mother and fed poorly! We used a variety of different ways to position Ivy, support her head in better alignment and found some options that worked for her mom while she fed her.
I remained concerned about the tightness in Ivy’s legs and feet so I taught her mom different ways to hold Ivy, move her joints, and position Ivy so that we could increase her range of motion and improve her mobility. To give her mom some alternatives, we used a variety of adapted equipment. By improving her alignment and giving her support, it decreased the tone in her legs and activated her trunk muscles. She could hold her head up and she could play with less frustration. Ivy was a happier baby!
Her mom had some great questions about appropriate toys. We decided to involve Early Intervention home educators now that we had equipment and strategies in place to help with Ivy’s play time. The home teachers are a wonderful community resource for children who have identified delays. They are experts in the development of play, have positioning equipment to lend and have a toy lending library. The teachers make regular home visits and upgrade equipment and toys as needed at no cost to families.
As Ivy grew, I continued my involvement and adapted her treatment to her and the family’s needs. Ivy progressed though development slowly but eventually used a supportive walker, wore braces to align her feet and had a wheelchair for distance mobility.
In summary, physiotherapy for children requires a working knowledge of several systems: typical and atypical development, the musculoskeletal system, the neurological system, an understanding how children play at different ages and an empathetic understanding of basic parenting - dressing, feeding, cleaning and moving children. The best outcomes happen when therapists, collaborating with occupational therapists, speech therapists, dieticians, educators, and medical practitioners, support the family.
Wow – so much to consider, especially when they can’t tell you what’s wrong. Do you have any advice for parents? L: Play is very important and should be a priority in the day. Fun is important. Make therapy fun. Let your baby play on his or her stomach. Crying is a part of baby’s communication with us and there are different cries that tell us what a child needs - hunger cry, tired cry, scared cry, pain cry and discomfort (cold, frustration etc). In my opinion, crying need not be a regular occurrence in good physiotherapy treatment. There are times when crying is unavoidable such as following surgery or during casting however, crying during regular therapy should be the exception and not the rule.Play is good for adults too! (Hopefully no crying though) If someone is interested in a career in physiotherapy, what’s involved? L: PT is a post-graduate university degree in Canada and the U.S. at a Master’s or Doctorate level. The best idea is to contact the various schools and see what they require. The requirements can be quite different. In addition to academic requirements, most also require community service and first-hand experience with the field such as being a volunteer or being a recipient of therapy, in order to apply.
Make sure it’s what you thought it would be! You obviously have a tremendous passion for your work. What do you love most about it? L: I love that I have to use all of myself at work- my scientific brain as well as my creative-intuitive brain; my body because I am constantly moving or moving others; use my sense of humour and sense of play. A good pediatric therapist is able to put everything together with a song and a smile. Best of all, I got to laugh every day!Art and science together J What would you pick as your superpower? L:I would want to be able to manipulate time and space. Wouldn’t it be cool to travel anywhere at any period in time? It’s a marvellous world to explore!
It is! Lin thank you so much for sharing your insight into the world of pediatric physiotherapy. It’s a fascinating field and I imagine with each patient you have to approach what you do and how you interact completely differently. That would make for an interesting variety! And you heard what she said, everyone, get out there and play!
May 11, 2015
Author Spotlight - Cynthia Gail!
Today I want to welcome Cynthia Gail, a fellow Soul Mate author! Last Christmas you might remember that I participated in the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop. Cynthia is the author who organized it all! I think she may be more organized than me! :D The third book in her Music City Hearts series, a contemporary romance called Summer’s Family Affair, was released May 6, 2015! Congratulations Cynthia!
Meet Cynthia:
My husband and I live in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee with our three dogs. When I'm not working or writing, I can be found with family and friends. I love to bake in the winter, grill in the summer, and on occasion, I sneak away from everyone and curl up with a good book.
Too bad we don’t live closer, I could be your baking tester :D I asked Cynthia the three questions I ask on Sharing the Awesome – cause she’s awesome!
What song would be your theme song? C: Two songs – Smile by Uncle Kracker and Don’t Stop Believing by Journey. Life’s too short not to enjoy every single moment. Smile even when you don’t feel like it and I promise your mood will change. Look at situations and look around you – there’s always something to smile about. And never give up on your dreams. Don’t stop believing that today could be the day. Wake up every morning with a new start.
Excellent advice! What would you pick as a superpower? C: Unlimited vision – I’m a romance writer, right? But not just vision that can see through things like clothing, iron, steel, brick etc., but vision that can see through to the heart of a person. Vision that can see the truth.
That might be a little scary (my husband doesn’t really want to know the truth about shoe prices even though he thinks he does). What’s your favourite dessert? C: Anything with the word chocolate or caramel in it. Both is even better!
I agree! Tell us about SUMMER'S FAMILY AFFAIR.
Jenny Cohen defines successful independence: she put herself through college, couldn’t ask for better friends, owns a consulting firm, wears designer clothes, and just moved into her dream home . . . But she’s alone, except for her ailing mother whom she supports in a nursing home. As the marketing consultant for Chester, Dorsey & Tanner, she’s surrounded by male attention. Too bad it’s the overly-protective big-brother type.
Architect, Craig Stone, hasn’t looked at another woman since his wife passed away four years ago. His time is taken—building a career while trying to be both mother and father to his eight-year-old son. But when his appointment with the largest development firm in Nashville is double-booked with a black-haired beauty, he finds himself reaching for new possibilities.
The attraction sets off more fireworks than the Fourth of July. Yet, their relationship is riddled with issues neither one of them expected. Somewhere in the middle they must find a way to compromise or let go of a chance for love they may never find again.
Click HERE for the amazon buy link.
Sounds like a great summer read! Here are the first two in the series:
Winter’s Magic Buy Link Spring’s Surprise Buy Link
Connect with Cynthia Gail:
Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads
Amazon Author Central
Congratulations on your new release, Cynthia! I really enjoyed reading Winter's Magic and now I can look forward to reading Spring's Surprise and Summer's Family Affair. Do you have an Autumn book in the works? :D
Meet Cynthia:
My husband and I live in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee with our three dogs. When I'm not working or writing, I can be found with family and friends. I love to bake in the winter, grill in the summer, and on occasion, I sneak away from everyone and curl up with a good book.Too bad we don’t live closer, I could be your baking tester :D I asked Cynthia the three questions I ask on Sharing the Awesome – cause she’s awesome!
What song would be your theme song? C: Two songs – Smile by Uncle Kracker and Don’t Stop Believing by Journey. Life’s too short not to enjoy every single moment. Smile even when you don’t feel like it and I promise your mood will change. Look at situations and look around you – there’s always something to smile about. And never give up on your dreams. Don’t stop believing that today could be the day. Wake up every morning with a new start.
Excellent advice! What would you pick as a superpower? C: Unlimited vision – I’m a romance writer, right? But not just vision that can see through things like clothing, iron, steel, brick etc., but vision that can see through to the heart of a person. Vision that can see the truth.
That might be a little scary (my husband doesn’t really want to know the truth about shoe prices even though he thinks he does). What’s your favourite dessert? C: Anything with the word chocolate or caramel in it. Both is even better!
I agree! Tell us about SUMMER'S FAMILY AFFAIR.
Jenny Cohen defines successful independence: she put herself through college, couldn’t ask for better friends, owns a consulting firm, wears designer clothes, and just moved into her dream home . . . But she’s alone, except for her ailing mother whom she supports in a nursing home. As the marketing consultant for Chester, Dorsey & Tanner, she’s surrounded by male attention. Too bad it’s the overly-protective big-brother type.Architect, Craig Stone, hasn’t looked at another woman since his wife passed away four years ago. His time is taken—building a career while trying to be both mother and father to his eight-year-old son. But when his appointment with the largest development firm in Nashville is double-booked with a black-haired beauty, he finds himself reaching for new possibilities.
The attraction sets off more fireworks than the Fourth of July. Yet, their relationship is riddled with issues neither one of them expected. Somewhere in the middle they must find a way to compromise or let go of a chance for love they may never find again.
Click HERE for the amazon buy link.
Sounds like a great summer read! Here are the first two in the series:
Winter’s Magic Buy Link Spring’s Surprise Buy Link
Connect with Cynthia Gail:
Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads
Amazon Author Central
Congratulations on your new release, Cynthia! I really enjoyed reading Winter's Magic and now I can look forward to reading Spring's Surprise and Summer's Family Affair. Do you have an Autumn book in the works? :D
