Interview by Flavia Ghelardi

Brazilian writer and mother Flavia Ghelardi did a long distance interview with me about A Special Mother is Born. Read it here. 

Ha Nacido Una Madre Especial

The big news that I have been hinting about is here! 
Next month the SPANISH translation of A Special Mother is Born, Ha Nacido Una Madre Especial, will be available, thanks to RIALP a Catholic Publisher in Madrid! I am so excited!

Now our friends in Spain and Latin America can read our stories about how our special needs children are blessings from God.

Gloria a Dios!

A Special Mother is Born turns two this week

Two years ago this week, I published A Special Mother is Born to offer hope to parents of special needs children. So many wonderful families have crossed my path since that day, I am very grateful!

I also told the story of how Christina helped me to fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a writer in the book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Writers. This man from the Middle East wrote me a lovely email and he gave me permission to share it with you. 

What a beautiful story you have written, Leticia. My heart ached and filled with deep sadness Christine's diagnosis of Down Syndrome and how the disease fueled your persistence and determination to become a writer despite all the discouraging words. The story teaches us an invaluable lesson on achieving our goals and fulfilling our dreams: Whatever we dream, we have to always focus and concentrate on it. If we dreamed to soar very high with eagles, we don't have to waste our time swimming with ducks in the pool. 

You are most welcome to share my words with your friends. At least, they should know what other people around the world say about you and your writing. You are a very talented writer indeed and your writing style is beautiful beyond the words to say.

Have a blessed weekend,
Hamza

Upcoming Events where you can meet me and buy a signed copy of my books

Holy Angels Pro-life Conference, Meriden, CT
 October 16. 
I will have a table at this conference featuring keynotes Jeanne Moynihan, the new chairwoman of the March for Life, and Ambassador Alan Keyes.

Vermont Catholic Conference
November 2
St Monica's Catholic Church
Barre, VT
I will have a table at this conference featuring keynote Sheila Llaugminas, radio host of the Relevant Radio show, "A Closer Look".

Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress Annual Convention
November 16
Ethan Allen Inn, Danbury, CT
I will have a table at this conference.

Copies of Chicken Soup for the Soul; Inspiration for Writers where I have contributed a chapter will also be available.

Book Talk at the Gospel of Life Society in Norwalk, CT

Eileen Bianchini, Leticia Velasquez and Mary Rose Garych

I was honored to be invited by my friend Eileen Bianchini to address the Gospel of Life Society at St Mary's in Norwalk, CT on April 13 after a lovely Mass in in the Extraordinary Form. St Mary's is a beautiful traditional church which features Mass in both Novus Ordo and EF. The parish is a mix of European Americans and recent immigrants from Africa, Asia and Latin America, a truly Catholic group. Fr Markey, the pastor is a wonderful homilist and inspires his parish to make a difference in the world for Christ.
 The Gospel of Life Society meets once a month after Mass to read from Blessed John Paul II's encyclical "Evangelium Vitae" and to pray for a culture of life. Then, after prayers, they roll up their sleeves and get to work. Most months a speaker will address the group on current issues affecting the culture, and many times they will respond to urgent legislative issues in Hartford. An most recent example is when legislators in Hartford considered a bill on Physician Assisted Suicide, while the bill was still in committee. Eileen Bianchini sent out various emails instructing the group how to contact committee members with pertinent information of the dangers of PAS and many members of the group arrived in the Capitol to wait all day to testify to the committee, supported by forces commanded by PeterWolfgang of the Family Institute of CT. The hearings began and thanks to the GOLS the members had heard the rebuttals to the lies told by the pro-death side promoting PAS. Their arguments fell flat since the truth had preceded them and the committee had to admit they did not have the votes for the Physician Assisted Suicide Bill to pass and it died in the committee. Thanks be to God!
I gave Eileen Bianchini the nickname "Terror of Hartford" for her amazing work defeating a bill which has lead to a tragedy where it has been legalized, in the state of Oregon suicides have risen 41% since approving PAS. Surely physicians are called to heal not to kill.
My talk, to a capacity crowd which included my Facebook friend Mary Rose Garych and many lovely families blessed by children with Down syndrome was warmly received and a lively question and answer session followed. Then I had the chance to meet the families and sign some books. I hope to meet with them again soon and give more talks, to medical students, doctors and all those who are helping mothers whose child has received a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome to understand that their children are indeed blessings from God and opportunities to grow in holiness.

Mommy of Many Trades reviews A Special Mother is Born

Thank you Jessica Heeran of "Mommy of Many Trades" blog for your thoughtful review of "A Special Mother is Born". Not a bad photo of Chrissy and I either!

My book just received The Catholic Writer's Guild Seal of Approval!

 

Dear Ms. Velasquez,

Thank you for submitting your book, A Special Mother Is Born, for the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval. 

After completing the review process, we are excited to award you the Seal of Approval for your work.

Congratulations! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact either of us.

Blessings,

Sarah Reinhard                                     Ann Lewis

SOA Committee Chair                         President