Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thanks to you both, Sue Ann and Becky, for your interest and support of the book. I hope it manages to reflect some of your own goodness and love back to you. And glad you liked the cover Sue Ann.

And thank you Peter for posting your wonderfully articulate and thoughtful review here. To answer your question Peter, part of me would love to write a sequel, but it would be a very long way off at the speed I write. 

I'm an independent author/publisher who's written an original fable about a Teddy Bear. Perhaps it might interest some of the good folk here? The story is, I hope, true to the purest of Teddy Bear ideals. It's been years in the writing (and illustrating), all done with the intent to engage and uplift the human spirit. Here's the blurb and some quick info:

A girl and her teddy bear share a promise to keep love alive in a home where it’s been all but forgotten. When they are forced apart one day, Solomon Bear is determined to find her at any cost!

The Story of Solomon Bear is presented as a 90 page chapter book. Internal illustrations are black and white. Recommended for ages 5+

Adults expecting a simple children's story are often surprised by the depth of the story as it unfolds. If you are familiar with children's classics, Solomon Bear shares the pure sentimentality of The Velveteen Rabbit with a dash of the whimsy in The Little Prince.

Reader Praise:
    - “Charming and beautiful."
    - "Whatever your age, if you have ever loved a teddy bear, you will be enthralled by Solomon Bear."
    - "I felt the story envelope me like a warm, fuzzy blanket."
    - "A delight to read, either quietly or out loud. "
    - "One of those books that I could keep on reading forever… heartfelt and full of meaning."
    - “A story reminding us of our ability to love, to look past all the things we allow to clutter our lives and return to the innocent, the pure, the magical.”
    - "A beautifully written tale about love and innocence and trust… has the kind of lyrical prose that sings off the page."
    - "Solomon Bear follows a long tradition of European Children's Fairy Tales … thought-provoking in nature."
    - "Reminds me that a child's love is so very special … holds valuable lessons for all of us."
    - “A timeless story of love and forgiveness.”
    - "A beautiful book sure to become a firm favourite of children and adults alike."
    - "Seldom will adults find a reminder of childhood in something so simple, eloquent and clever as Solomon Bear."

You can read the source of those independent reviews here: Goodreads, Librarything.

Now available in paperback and kindle formats at Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada.
Also available in all other good ebook formats at: Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo

I might post the a few passages here later if there is any interest. Have a nice weekend everyone!

Thanks everyone for the interest in the story.    I have sent PMs to Sherroy, Janice and Sandrine with details of how you can receive a review copy.

As Peter kindly mentioned, copies are available in many electronic formats, for reading on any PC, e-reader, tablet, or electronic device. I am also looking into a print version at the moment, although that might still be a few months away. I shall certainly post here when it becomes available.

Thanks very much to Peter and Wubbie for their support. Wubbie's review can be found here on Arcto's blog:
http://belovedteddybear.wordpress.com/2 … omon-bear/

For anyone interested you can find a free sample of the first chapter or two here:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66596

BTW Sherroy I'll send you a PM later today.

Great Jessie. Thanks for your interest and the offer for Arcto to review on the blog! I'll send you a PM with details shortly.

I appreciate the other points about illustrations. It is something that may be in the pipeline. However I think the most important thing is to engage a reader's heart with words, then leave room for their own imagination to paint in the details. But then a writer (or poet) would say that.    (If truth be told, if I ever successfully graduate from stick figures I would consider illustrating a few scenes myself.)

Within the story itself Solomon is asked why anyone should bother listening to him talk about love, because "He's only a Bear". He insists: "Love is just what Bears do!"

As suggested in the blurb, this fable is perhaps best for those of school age and above. But I wouldn't say it's only a story for children. Good children's stories can speak to adults as well. In a way Solomon Bear can be read as a fable about the challenges of retaining beauty and compassion in the world, and the vital role children (and Bears!) can play in helping us remember our human worth. Having said that, much of the beauty of fiction to me is that readers are free to find their own meaning.

I'm an independent author/publisher who's completed an original fable about a Teddy Bear.  I'm hoping to reach a few arctophiles who would consider writing a thoughtful personal review online in exchange for a free (ebook) copy.

Would you be interested? 

The story is, I hope, true to the purest of Teddy Bear ideals. It's been years in the writing, all done with the intent to engage and uplift the human spirit.

Here is a short description of The Story of Solomon Bear:
~~~
A girl and her teddy bear share a promise to keep love alive in a home where it’s been all but forgotten. When they are forced apart one day, Solomon Bear is determined to find her at any cost!

In the tradition of The Velveteen Rabbit and The Little Prince comes Solomon Bear. At once a children's romance and a fable about rediscovering innocence and self-love, this sentimental tale has the capacity to transcend genre and age boundaries. For while a taste for porridge, marmalade, or honey might make a bear more human, Solomon would remind us: it is love that brings us all to life.
~~~
The story is presented as a 90 page chapter book with charcoal internal illustrations. 

Offer details:
1. I can provide review copies in the most popular ebook formats; PDF, Kindle & Epub.
2. There is no obligation to write a review - especially if you don't like or finish the story.  However, if the story inspires you, it would be ideal if you were able to share that enthusiasm with others in your own words. Amazon.com (or Amazon UK/DE) is one place where your opinion will really count and I ask those who appreciate the story to kindly consider leaving a review there.

Please contact the author via PM or post below if you are interested or have any further questions.