This is Ella

What now?

Okay, I don’t mean to jump the gun BUT as I write this we only have $245 left to raise in order to reach the Kickstarter goal of $8000!!! You guys! This is amazing! Thank you so much for all of your love and support. I am so incredibly excited. Not sure what I am talking about? Click here

But what now? What happens if we not only reach the goal, but exceed the goal? Where will the funds go? I have given this some thought and while I have tried to be conservative in this process there is definitely room for growth. It’s time to dream a little bigger. Here are just a few of my dreams.

Increased exposure and publicity

When pricing out publishing options I basically went with the most basic package. No e-reader version, no publicity, no “look inside” feature on Amazon. These things, however, can definitely increase the accessibility of the book. So I would love to be able to upgrade the publishing package that I go with. The company that I plan to use will also help with some of the promotion (that being said, as you have all proved, nothing is as good as word of mouth).

New parent baskets

When you have a child with Down syndrome you are immediately welcomed into one of the most amazing communities I have ever had the privilege of being a part of. Two of my friends, Krista Rowland-Collins (Adele’s Over the Rainbow Baskets – Alberta) and Danielle Gibbons (Baskets of Love – BC) create special care packages for new parents of children with Down syndrome. For many, the birth of a baby with DS can be one of both joy and sorrow. For those who only find out their baby’s diagnosis at birth there is much grief and it can be a very very scary time, especially considering that most parents know nothing about Down syndrome. These baskets are a beacon of hope. They not only celebrate the birth of their child but welcome them into our community and provide them with resources to help them along the way. It is my dream that every basket would contain a copy of “This is Ella”. I want to share with the parents that it is going to be okay and that their child with be more the same than different. It will be okay, I promise.

En français, s’il vous plait

Finally, as Ella started her school journey in a French Immersion school, there are many French teachers that would love to have this book, en français. I have someone ready to translate it but obviously it would be an entirely separate publication (minus having to create illustrations obviously). My third dream is to have “This is Ella” available in French!