An excellent article "Sabrina" Holds Heart Lesson For All recently came out in Hawaii.  I was greeted by the article when I arrived at the airport.  The article appeared in "for Kauai" and is distributed in at least 65 newstand on Kauai and also on Oahu.  The article raised awareness of congenital heart disease, and talks about my motivation in writing the book.  Thank you Anne O'Malley for your lovely, insightful article about SACH. 

I want to thank all my readers!  December sales are way up!  For those of you who missed it,
I just posted my interview on the Children's Author Show on my homepage.  The questions asked by Don McCauley, the host, were excellent.  Listen to learn more about SACH.  Also posted are a link to my interview on Israel Natioanl Radio.

I was amazed at how successful the Goodreads Giveaway is!  500 people from the U.S. and Canada signed up to receive a copy of "Sabrina The Girl With A Hole In Her Heart."   Online reviewers and bookstore owners also became aware of the book from the giveaway.  Here's to the age of social media!

If you happen to be in Los Angeles, "Sabrina, The Girl With A Hole In Her Heart" is now available at the Museum of Tolerance Gift Shop in Los Angeles.  Buy the book during your visit at this not be missed museum that has so much to teach about the Holocaust and tolerance.  If you happen to be on the garden isle of Kauai, the book can be purchaed at the Wilcox Hospital Gift Shop (by WalMart in Lihue);  and Talk Story Bookstore in the historic town of Hanapepe.    It's fun to go visit Talk Story on Friday Art night and dine at the Hanapepe Cafe, which seves a very generous portion of vegetarian lasagne, which is enough for two if you order a soup or salad.  I picked up a very cute salt/pepper shaker set that look like they were carved out of shells at one of the local gift shops there for only $10.00.  I also met wonderful local teachers and book lovers from all over the world at Talk Story on September 30th when I was doing a book signing.  The owners, Ed and Cynthia make you feel at home- they even bought me a beautiful plumeria lei!

Just enjoyed an author visit at Kahili Adventist with children ages 5-10.  I couldn't believe how smart the younger children were.  A girl in the class had a cousin with a hole in her heart.   I was amazed that a five-year old in the class knew where Africa was on the class map and showed the class the route Sabrina would have flown from Africa to Israel.  The students had lots of questions about the Dead Sea and liked the " sinus irrigator pump" that I brought in. They also wanted to see a movie of a real child and the Save a Child's Heart doctors- luckily I downloaded the video on my IPAD. They were so interested that the presentation lasted 1 1/2 hours!

Today, I was very honored to lean that Sabrina, The Girl With A Hole In Her Heart was nominated for the Be'chol Lashon Media Awards which recognizes  excellence in coverage of the ethnic and racial diversity of world Jewry. Winners will be announced in Spring 2012..

Congenital Heart defect is the most common defect in the world!  A federal advisory panel is now recommending that all newborns are screened for congenital heart disease. Remember Jimmy Osmond of the Osmond family?  He suffered a stoke that was due to congenital heart disease- which he had for 40 years- but went undiagnosed.             

This weekend I shared, Sabrina, The Girl With A Hole In Her Heart with my granddaughters, Danelle
(aged 9)and Natalia (aged 6).  I had special reading time with them.  They were very interested in the story and especially the efforts of the Israeli doctors at Save a Child's Heart to help children and doctors in other countries.  An excellent discussion was prompted by the book.  What a wonderful message for children and adults to be reminded of- Israel's humanitarian efforts.  I look forward to reading the book with my other seven grandchildren!

Elana Samuels, Musuem of Tolerance, Los Angeles, Director of Museum Volunteer Services

Several days ago, a reader gave me a check for $25 to forward to Save a Child's Heart.   Never did I image that children and adults would be so moved by Sabrina’s story that they would ask where they could make a donation to save real children with congenital heart disease.   Hooray for the power of the pen!  A Bigger Hooray to those kind souls who care!