Advance Notice

Hello all! I hope you all had weeks that were better than the thought of a hoedown hosted by overall-clad talking muffins!

Well, we are only two days away from the release of "Life is a Pirate Ship Run by a Velociraptor!"
(Remember the Kindle version is available for pre-order!)

To give you an idea of what you could be getting yourselves into, I have some of the advance reviews for my new book!

"Once again, as I picked up Ms. Hawn's book, I anticipated a strange adventure, judging from the title. What I got was that and so much more. Ms. Hawn delivers in a way that only she can, having a sense of humor that can only be described as "unique" and "one of a kind". I enjoyed this one incredibly and look forward to her third, as Ms. Hawn never disappoints."

B.S. Johnson, author of "Maters, Taters and Grits"

  

"From one awkward journey to the next, Allison keeps you in suspense as her foot stabs precariously close to her mouth on an all-too-frequent, yet welcoming basis! Funny and relatable - Allison covers it all!"

Edmund McCombs, author of "Stuck at Seven (While Awkwardly Aiming for Ten)"

"Ms. Hawn deftly puts her finger on the ludicrous nature of events and people with a telling eye and a forgiving voice. I rarely laugh out loud when I'm reading a book, but this was a common occurrence as I read about her adventures and the people she encounters. We all have adventures and run across different types of people, but few of us have the ability to translate our experiences into a simply wonderful read! Congratulations on writing a superb book and this is one I enthusiastically place in the five star category. I simply loved it!"

Dianne Harman, author of the Coyote Series

"Un-freaking-believable! How could so many hilarious things happen to one person? Loved every minute of the book!"

Andy Peloquin, author of "In the Days: A Tale of the Forgotten Continent"

September 7th this velociraptor can be yours!  

Don't forget to check out Facebook, Twitter (@AllisonHawn) and Goodreads for rad updates!

At the Hop!

We interrupt your normal weekly schedule with this random post. Since I cannot make that emergency broadcast sound I have turned to 90's cartoons for a little help.

This week I was drafted into participating in a little blog-hop by fellow author (and Spokanite) Su Williams (whose books you really should check out). The point of this little shindig is to promote and support other authors. So for today's random mid-week post I have three authors to spotlight for you!

B.S. Johnson

B.S. (Barbie Sue) Johnson grew up in rural towns in Northern Georgia. She has an incredible love for animals, enjoys the outdoors, the water, and spending time with family.

Her works include a free e-Book available on Smashwords, "Being Kind In An Unkind World", several poems and short stories published in Literary Magazines, "Maters, Taters & Grits", which is a non-fiction, and a poetry book called "Rhymes From Darker Times", and a few others in the pipeline.

With hopes to one day have her own Animal Rescue facility, and possibly write a book about the endeavors involved with that, Ms. Johnson has just completed a Certification course in Animal Behavior/Canine Obedience.

Andy Peloquin

Andy Peloquin is a fantasy lover turned author, and he writes the stories he would love to read. 

Growing up as a third-culture kid gave him a broader insight into the world around him, an insight he tries to weave into his books. 

He debuted his first novel, "In the Days: A Tale of the Forgotten Continent," in 2014, and plans on writing many, many more.



Rebecca Scarberry 

Rebecca Scarberry was born and raised in Southern California. She has retired, and writes full-time. She lives on a very secluded farm in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas with her husband and five cats. She has devoted her time to writing fiction since 2009, and has self-published six books in four different genres. Writing for children is her passion.

The books she has published are: "Jumper," "Jumper Bounces Back," "Jumper Meets Bouncy," "Messages from Henry," "Rag Doll," and "Where Love Takes You." The script for one episode of her Jumper series of children’s books is now in the hands of her editor. Television producers are waiting!  

If you're looking for a new read, you might consider one of the above authors! 

A quick reminder, if you live in the Boise area I have a book signing on June 13th at Hyde Park Books! 

I now return you to your normal week's schedule. 

If you need further life interruptions don't forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter (@AllisonHawn) and Goodreads!

It Takes a Community...

Hello all! I hope you all survived your respective weeks with finesse and grace.

In contrast, I spent much of my week pretty much doing this:

Before I jump in to why I might as well have been IV injecting caffeine, I should probably announce the results of the latest contest.

Thank you everyone who voted for "Life is a Circus Run by a Platypus" to win a People's Choice Award. Sadly, I did not win, but I was the runner up with 93 votes because my readers are rad! Our t-shirt winner was Lauren Schmitt-Boyd! Wear your platypus with pride, Lauren!

 I also, finally, have the results from the November and December book drive to benefit the YWCA! Thank you to everyone who bought a copy of "Life is a Circus Run by a Platypus", you raised around $100 that will go to help support women and men who suffer from homelessness, domestic violence and other life-barriers! Thank you! 


I realize that on this blog I tend to stay on the lighter side of life, however, we must all admit that life is not always peaches and cream.

My day job, when I'm not driving my coworkers insane, is working with those that society has mostly forgotten. I work with those who are homeless, women and men who face domestic violence, ex-convicts, street kids, people with active warrants, veterans, drug addicts, those with untreated mental diagnosis, sometimes people who smell like excrement and people who have struggles in their lives bigger than they are.

I am a social worker.

This post is not to get on any platform or start some political argument based around who does and does not deserve help. Though, honestly, if anyone is going to have a judgmental attitude about those I serve, please keep in mind I've always wanted to try this:

I bring up my vocation because of what I was a part of this week. Every year in Spokane, or for the past three years, The Homeless Coalition has held an event called The Homeless Connect. The event is basically a one-stop-shop for social services.

Why might that be important? Ok, imagine, if you will that you are homeless and your main form of transportation is your feet. Now imagine that in one day's time you have to go set up an appointment to see if you qualify for housing, then travel six miles to see if you can get on a computer at the local labor office so you can check to see if your resume has been accepted by any companies, then you must walk another four miles to find the nearest place that is serving lunch, then you must walk another five miles to see if you can get on a list to stay in a shelter (because, after all, if you don't get your name in early, you won't get a bed)...


If you want to survive, there is no such thing as being homeless and lazy.

The average homeless person will walk upwards of ten to fifteen miles a day to receive basic services. The Homeless Connect, for one day a year, unites as many agencies as we can get in one location changing that ten to fifteen miles into the distance of one gymnasium.

I was on the planning committee for this event, which took months and months of tired looking social workers gathering around a table and saying things like, "Does anyone have any idea who actually said they would show up this year?"

 Well, as it turns out, over 40 agencies showed up. We had veterans services, DSHS, domestic violence services, a free medical clinic, a group that came to fix homeless peoples' bikes for free, mental health services and representatives from the school districts. We even had a group of cosmetology students come and volunteer to give free haircuts to people, some of which hadn't been able to get a haircut in years.

The event fed over 200 people and gave them a warm place to be for a day with wraparound services at their fingertips.

I spent all day on my feet, running about like I had weasels in my pants, but could not have been happier with the results. So much good was done mostly because of the community members who showed up to help.

I truly appreciate all of the social workers, agencies, volunteers and people who donated food and money to get this event off of the ground. You've probably heard that old phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child," but just as true, "It takes a community to help people out of homelessness."

That is what I want this blog post to be about, a moment to realize the difference that communities can make to the downtrodden in our society. In a time of rapidly shrinking resources in the world of social work, it is more important than ever that communities come together in meaningful ways to help the forgotten.

Probably one of the best moments of the entire whirlwind event was when a little old man wandered up to a service provider and said, "Thanks for not making me feel all alone."

My little one-line eavesdrop reminded me a of a poem written by my friend B.S. Johnson, which I have put, with her permission, below:


 Alone

Sometimes I feel like I'm in this world alone,
All I seem to do is wander and roam.
Feelings from deep down inside my soul,
Surround my heart, my mind and don't let go.

Help me someone; don't let me fall too far,
Had my chance, missed my falling star.
Fear in my heart, gripping my throat,
Sinking quickly in this boat.


Thank you to everyone who takes the time to help the homeless and downtrodden in their communities feel less alone in their struggles.


As always, feel free to check out my daily adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads!

Maters, Taters and Grits, oh my!

Greetings ya'll! I hope your weeks have been more exciting than the thought of a thousand gremlins, who have been fed after midnight, playing kettle-drums to Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart!"

Well for today's post I actually had to sit down with a glass of good ol' sweet tea and Charlie Daniels Band's "Devil Went Down to Georgia" blasting in the background.

"What would bring out Allison's not normally as obvious Southern side?" one might ask.

This is why:

Author B.S. Johnson wrote this nice little slice of Georgia peach pie and not only signed a copy for me, but allowed me to interview her as well!

"Maters, Taters and Grits" is a little homage to Southern living that is perfect for anyone wishing to revisit their roots in the deep South or for those wanting to get a peek into what "Southern Hospitality" really means. B.S. Johnson not only does a good job in her collection of essays of conveying the warmth of the culture she grew up in, but does so in a way that will leave you hankering for a huge glass of sweet tea.

Of course, what am I still yapping about, here is B.S. Johnson's world in her own words:

What made you want to start writing?

I was raised an only child, and was adopted. I had lots of things running through my young mind, and no siblings to beat it out on, so I started using writing as an outlet. I filled many notebooks in my day.

You have a new book of poetry coming out soon, can you tell my readers a bit about it?

 

It is actually out now. "Rhymes from Darker Times." I guess you could say it was twenty years in the making, because several of the poems in that book came out of notebooks I have been writing in since the late eighties, early nineties. These poems were some that helped me through some of the more difficult times in my life.

Side note: Look here it is!  

If you could sit and have a glass of sweet tea with any fictional character from a book, what character would it be?

Oh, that would have to be Harry Potter. I love magic. I wonder if he could make me talk to animals...

What is the single biggest difference between Southerners and Northerners?

The accent, I think. You can usually pick up on it right away. 

What song are you most likely to be overheard singing loudly to in the shower?

Probably anything by Colt Ford. I'm a huge fan.

If you had to choose between an eternity of listening to nothing but elevator music or an eternity of eating nothing but jello with vegetables in it, which would you choose and why?

Jello with veggies. Because I gotta eat. And jello is yummy. If there's veggies in it I don't like, such as peas, I'll pick 'em out. 

What has been your favorite part of the writing process thus far?

Honestly, I'd have to say being published. It was such a great accomplishment for me. I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd have a book-much less two- in print!

Thank you to B.S. Johnson for being a good sport and answering my questions! If either of those books piqued your interest you should check them out (go click the titles, I linked them) and also scurry on over to B.S. Johnson's blog!

Well "Life is a Circus Run by a Platypus" has been out for about a month and a half now!

J.G. Brandt says, "This had me laughing the entire way through. The stories themselves are the kind that are so wonderfully and hilariously improbable that you know they are true. Miss Hawn has a unique style that is quite delightful for the reader and a quick as a whip sense of humor that will have you smiling despite yourself. If you have ever had a moment in your own life where you sat stunned at a situation you were in thinking "that so did not just happen...." or "no one is ever gonna believe this...." you will enjoy this book. When I finished the last story my first thought was "But wait! There has to be more!" I look forward to her next work"

Thank you to everyone who has supported me thus far, written reviews and generally just been absolutely smashing! I hope you all have a splendid week!

If you want to find out why a raven is like a writing desk, feel free to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads!