My table at the Kankakee Public Library Author Fair on April 18, 2009
Barnes & Noble - Kankakee Adult Literacy Fair April 25, 2009
what children envisioned Cloud Jumpers to look like ...
Young Writers of Kankakee County -
May 19, 2010 - Kankakee Public Library
"Dear Tracy. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to come and speak with us. Your talk was very inspirational and we all learned something from it. Thanks. The yWriters group.
- Lauren, Izzie, Devan, Abigail, L. Sue Durkin
- Lauren, Izzie, Devan, Abigail, L. Sue Durkin
National Federation of Press Women 2010 national conference,
Union League Club of Chicago, August 28. "Repurpose Your Columns & Blogs Into a Book." - guest speaker
American Brittany Rescue 7th Annual National Picnic, Sept. 11, 2010 in Earlville, Illinois. Guests included Bill McFarlin and Star of CBS's Greatest American Dog show.
Kids Read! Day - April 16, 2011
Join me, and other local authors, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 16, 2011 at the Exploration Station (a children's museum), Bourbonnais, Illinois for "Kids Read Day." I will be reading my book, "Cloud Jumpers" to children and will have several copies of my books, including "What if the Moon?" for sale. See www.exploration-station.org for more details.
What children at the Exploration Station Kids Read Day
envisioned Cloud Jumpers to look like ...
Illinois Center for the Book
See my author information now listed through Illinois Center for the Book. Illinois Center for the Book is an affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, sponsored by the Illinois State Library, Jesse White, Secretary of State and State Librarian. The mission of the Illinois Center for the Book is to nurture and connect readers and writers, and honor our rich literary heritage. http://www.illinoisauthors.org/authors/Tracy_Ahrens
8th Annual American Brittany Rescue - Illinois picnic
Images from the 8th annual American Brittany Rescue - Illinois picnic held Sept. 10, 2011 in Earlville, Illinois. I shared information about my book (Raising My Furry Children) – 15 percent of the cost of each book automatically goes to ABR. It was heartwarming to hug and kiss so many Brittanies.
Illinois Woman's Press Association fall 2011 newsletter
www.iwpa.org See the Fall 2011 PenPoints newsletter, page 5.
Bourbonnais Library Author Fair
Bourbonnais Public Library author fair, September 17, 2011, Bourbonnais, Illinois.
American Brittany Rescue
See information about purchasing my book Raising My Furry Children through American Brittany Rescue's website. A portion of the book's proceeds benefits ABR in honor of my Brittany, Speckles. http://www.americanbrittanyrescue.org/index.php?module=pagesetter&func=viewpub&tid=7&pid=2
For reviews of "Raising My Furry Children"
Click here - Raising My Furry Children
October 2011
"Raising My Furry Children" on display
among Local Author books at
Barnes & Noble, Bourbonnais, Illinois.
What if the Moon? is now available through
Be There Bedtime Stories
Be There Bedtime Stories is a website that combines a webcam with bedtime stories to deliver "Webtime Stories™". They embed webcam recorded video of a storyteller onto the page of a children's e-book, so families far apart - such as grandparents, traveling parents, military parents or even aunts and uncles - can still 'be there' for this age-old storytelling tradition. Click here for What if the Moon? on Be There Bedtime Stories. What if the Moon?
KVMag August 2012 edition
My books were highlighted in the August 2012 edition of KVMag magazine
Artsy Fartsy Tuesday blog review
Mary Hone who writes a blog through BlogPaws Community called roxythetravelingdog featured my graphite works and writings. See
a teaser at http://roxythetravelingdog.com/ and a small feature
at http://desertravenart.com/artsy-fartsy-tuesday-tracy-ahrens
a teaser at http://roxythetravelingdog.com/ and a small feature
at http://desertravenart.com/artsy-fartsy-tuesday-tracy-ahrens
Talking-Dogs.com
Sue Kottwitz, founder of Talking-Dogs.com posted a review on her website http://www.talking-dogs.com/ about "Raising My Furry Children." The review includes images of my art and a photo of me kissing my dog, Trucker. The review is archived under the Thursday, November 29, 2012 blog post. Sue promotes her blog posts via Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Stumbleupon. She is based in Missouri.
RBTV A-List television interview
I was a guest for Riverside Brookfield High School's (Illinois) educational television network RBTV. The segment is noted among award-winning celebrity interviews called A-List. The segment can be viewede online through YouTube. RBTV has an extensive collection of videos on Youtube and has been broadcasting on cable TV for nearly 30 years.
It can be watched locally on Comcast 16 and AT& T U-verse on channel 99/Brookfield. For a direct link to RBTV see www.rbtv.tv/
For a direct link to their A-List Youtube videos –
click on this link and scroll down to see mine:
RBTV A-List
It can be watched locally on Comcast 16 and AT& T U-verse on channel 99/Brookfield. For a direct link to RBTV see www.rbtv.tv/
For a direct link to their A-List Youtube videos –
click on this link and scroll down to see mine:
RBTV A-List
FromTheDogsPaw.com
Allen Pearson, a member of BlogPaws Community and creator of FromTheDogsPaw.com hosted a Christmas Gifts Festival showcase on his blog in December of 2012. He asked for short posts about artist’s work and their contact information. See http://www.fromthedogspaw.com/ and look under the November 26, 2012 post. Or click on this link: FromTheDogsPaw.com
"What if the Moon?" - animated
My children's book "What if the Moon?" is animated and free to view on this site http://amy.tjsps.ntpc.edu.tw/rif.html - scroll down on the page to the book title. A direct link to the book is the following: http://www.rif.org/assets/Documents/readingplanet/
ReadAloud_Stories/what_if_the_moon.swf
ReadAloud_Stories/what_if_the_moon.swf
Eureka College Alumni Newsletter March 2013
Eureka College's Alumni Newsletter for March 2013 notes my columns beginning in WagthedogUK and my portrait of Bosley bunny that will be displayed in the Rabbit Center at the House Rabbit Society national headquarters in Richmond, Calif. Click on this link NEWSLETTER
Barnes & Noble
|
Judge of feature story entries for the
Arizona Press Club contest 2011
This link mentions one of my comments on a
winning entry in the competition.
See Arizona Press Club 2011
winning entry in the competition.
See Arizona Press Club 2011
Writers Weekly
Writers Weekly notes brief mentions of "Cloud Jumpers,"
"What if the Moon?" and "Giant Hero." See Writers Weekly
"What if the Moon?" and "Giant Hero." See Writers Weekly
Wikipedia
Wikipedia notes the book, "Giant Hero" as a resource
under the topic of Potter Sequence. See Wikipedia
under the topic of Potter Sequence. See Wikipedia
Joyce Anthony, author interview
Author Joyce Anthony shares an author profile about me on her website.
See Joyce Anthony
See Joyce Anthony
Eureka College Alumni Newsletter May 2013
Eureka College's Alumni Newsletter for May 2013 notes my awards
in the 2013 Illinois Woman’s Press Association’s Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest. Click on this link NEWSLETTER
in the 2013 Illinois Woman’s Press Association’s Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest. Click on this link NEWSLETTER
Writing noted in "A New Religious America"
Part of a story I wrote while at the Daily Journal in 1997 is quoted, along with a mention of my name as the writer in a book by Diana L. Eck. The book is "A New Religious America," 2009, HarperCollins. Diana Eck is a religious scholar who is Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies at Harvard University, as well as a Master of Lowell House and the Director of The Pluralism Project at Harvard. See the book and quote by clicking here: A New Religious America
Guardian Angel Kids - interactive ezine
A mention of "Cloud Jumpers" is made in Guardian Angel Kids, interactive ezine September 2012 issue titled "Weather or Not." View the ezine by clicking here: "Weather or Not." You can view "Cloud Jumpers" in ebook form by clicking here: "Cloud Jumpers"
Blogger mention
Author Kevin McNamee mentions my children's books in his blog. Click here: McNamee
The Light of Gabriel Foundation
The Light of Gabriel Foundation mentions "Giant Hero" on their website. The Light of Gabriel Foundation is a Christian non-profit organization whose wish is to show the light of God's healing to families suffering the loss of an infant through a miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death or early infant death. The book is noted among resources. Click here: Giant Hero
Illinois Woman's Press Association
author page listing
My published books are noted in the Illinois Woman's Press Association author pages. Click here: IWPA Author Page
Amazon.com Author Page
Read my author information, see my books and purchase them through the Amazon.com Author Page. Click here: AMAZON
Finishing Line Press
Finishing Line Press noted an award I won through the
Illinois Woman's Press Association for "Nature Will Heal."
Click here: FLP
Momence
Progress Reporter
My columns about raising my pets started appearing in the Momence Progress Reporter newspaper in March of 2014. Here is the first one to appear in our hometown paper.
Rescue Me magazine
My story, "Our Trip Home," about bringing Trucker home from the shelter, is in the September/October 2014 issue of Rescue Me magazine. Page 34 under Rescue Tales.
http://www.rescuemecentral.com/ is their website. The magazine is
bi-monthly.
http://www.rescuemecentral.com/ is their website. The magazine is
bi-monthly.
Kankakee Local Authors
The Kankakee Public Library has created a brochure listing Kankakee area authors, contact information, author websites and titles of their books. It is available at the library. I am listed among the authors. A PDF of that brochure is noted here. Click the button below to download the PDF.
Kick off to Summer Reading
Bourbonnais Township Park District hosted a Kick off to Summer Reading program Thursday, May 21, 2015 at the Exploration Station…a Children’s Museum in Bourbonnais, Illinois. I shared my three children's books and read from my book, “Cloud Jumpers.” I have children draw what they think a Cloud Jumper would look like before revealing what I imagined the book characters to look like, and then the final product. These images were taken at the event. Included are some of the drawings in crayon that children did for me depicting what they thought a Cloud Jumper would look like.
Tri-Point Lower Elementary: Pennies for Pets
Tri-Point Lower Elementary students participated in an April PBIS celebration April 28, 2016 in Kempton, Illinois.
I was invited by Angela Winger-Bryan, Asst. Principal, to participate in the PBIS events by speaking to/reading to kindergarten through third grade students.
Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is a way for schools to encourage good behavior. With PBIS, kids learn about behavior, just as they learn other subjects like math or science.
A month prior Angela asked if I could visit the school and read my most recent book, "Sammy Sparrow's First Flight," to the children. My schedule would not allow it. I did, however, send her a signed copy of the book for their library. Angela then came up with another idea. She asked the students to host a Pennies for Pets fund raising drive during April. When the month ended, she asked if I could visit the school and accept the funds to donate to humane organizations I am helping with my book. All proceeds from the sale of my book are being donated to nine area humane organizations.
I was thrilled at this idea. I told her I would visit and read to the children when their fund raising drive was over.
At the event the children presented $194 in coins that they raised.
I showed them one image of each of my pets on a big screen and shared that the funds will help rescued pets like mine get health care, food and a new loving home. All of my images showed my pets wearing hats of some sort. The children laughed.
I then read two of my books, "Cloud Jumpers" and "What if the Moon?" Images of illustrations from my books were shown on a screen.
Before the children saw the "Cloud Jumpers" illustrations, I asked them to imagine what they thought a Cloud Jumper would look like. They each drew an image. Then I revealed what my first idea of a Cloud Jumper would look like, and then what book illustrator Gene Ruble came up with for my final book.
I signed and donated a copy of all three of my books for their school library.
I divided the funds raised between all of the humane organizations I am assisting.
Shown here are images from the event and artwork by the children imagining what a Cloud Jumper would look like.
I was invited by Angela Winger-Bryan, Asst. Principal, to participate in the PBIS events by speaking to/reading to kindergarten through third grade students.
Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is a way for schools to encourage good behavior. With PBIS, kids learn about behavior, just as they learn other subjects like math or science.
A month prior Angela asked if I could visit the school and read my most recent book, "Sammy Sparrow's First Flight," to the children. My schedule would not allow it. I did, however, send her a signed copy of the book for their library. Angela then came up with another idea. She asked the students to host a Pennies for Pets fund raising drive during April. When the month ended, she asked if I could visit the school and accept the funds to donate to humane organizations I am helping with my book. All proceeds from the sale of my book are being donated to nine area humane organizations.
I was thrilled at this idea. I told her I would visit and read to the children when their fund raising drive was over.
At the event the children presented $194 in coins that they raised.
I showed them one image of each of my pets on a big screen and shared that the funds will help rescued pets like mine get health care, food and a new loving home. All of my images showed my pets wearing hats of some sort. The children laughed.
I then read two of my books, "Cloud Jumpers" and "What if the Moon?" Images of illustrations from my books were shown on a screen.
Before the children saw the "Cloud Jumpers" illustrations, I asked them to imagine what they thought a Cloud Jumper would look like. They each drew an image. Then I revealed what my first idea of a Cloud Jumper would look like, and then what book illustrator Gene Ruble came up with for my final book.
I signed and donated a copy of all three of my books for their school library.
I divided the funds raised between all of the humane organizations I am assisting.
Shown here are images from the event and artwork by the children imagining what a Cloud Jumper would look like.
Forest in "Makin' Biscuits" book
Author Deb Barnes included a little story about my cat, Forest, in her new book, "Makin' Biscuits: Weird cat habits and the even weirder habits of the humans who love them" (Oct. 27, 2016).
His story starts on page 115. He is spotlighted in a chapter titled "Watering holes and bathroom breaks"
You can find her book through Amazon.com or other major booksellers online, or through her website. The Amazon link is below.
His story starts on page 115. He is spotlighted in a chapter titled "Watering holes and bathroom breaks"
You can find her book through Amazon.com or other major booksellers online, or through her website. The Amazon link is below.
IWPA contest win 2016
I earned recognition in the 2016 Illinois Women's Press Association Mate E Palmer Professional Communications Contest. I am a member of the IWPA.
Two of my pet stories were entered in the category of - "Web and social media, blogs personal" and they earned an Honorable Mention. Story titles I entered were: "Trucker and his versatile feet" & "Turning down the bed"
Judge's comments were:
"Sweet entry about the author's dog, Trucker. A short, model-telling. Simply told. "Turning down the bed" Another slice-of-life entry about the bedtime habits of the author and her dog. Funny and light-hearted."
A couple links to these stories are:
http://www.wagthedoguk.com/2015/05/22/trucker-and-his-versatile-dog-feet/
http://www.wagthedoguk.com/2015/01/14/turning-bed/
Two of my pet stories were entered in the category of - "Web and social media, blogs personal" and they earned an Honorable Mention. Story titles I entered were: "Trucker and his versatile feet" & "Turning down the bed"
Judge's comments were:
"Sweet entry about the author's dog, Trucker. A short, model-telling. Simply told. "Turning down the bed" Another slice-of-life entry about the bedtime habits of the author and her dog. Funny and light-hearted."
A couple links to these stories are:
http://www.wagthedoguk.com/2015/05/22/trucker-and-his-versatile-dog-feet/
http://www.wagthedoguk.com/2015/01/14/turning-bed/
Cat Writers' Association contest win 2016
In 2016, two of my stories about raising my pets won Certificates of Excellence in the 22nd Annual Cat Writers’ Association Communications Contest. The contest drew nearly 300 entries in 37 categories.
Certificates of Excellence are sent to people whose entries receive an average score of 90 or higher by three professional CWA members.
My stories that won were in the following categories. I also share links here for the online stories.
Winning categories and articles I submitted were:
VII.3 Online Article/Behavior & Training
"Does Your Cat Ever Hide His Toys Around the House?"
http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-behavior-humor-hide-toys-around-the-house
VII.5 Online Article/Any Other Topic
"Does Your Cat Go Through Life on His Back? Mine Does"
http://www.catster.com/LIFESTYLE/DOES-YOUR-CAT-GO-THROUGH-LIFE-ON-HIS-BACK-BELLY-PICTURES
Certificates of Excellence are sent to people whose entries receive an average score of 90 or higher by three professional CWA members.
My stories that won were in the following categories. I also share links here for the online stories.
Winning categories and articles I submitted were:
VII.3 Online Article/Behavior & Training
"Does Your Cat Ever Hide His Toys Around the House?"
http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-behavior-humor-hide-toys-around-the-house
VII.5 Online Article/Any Other Topic
"Does Your Cat Go Through Life on His Back? Mine Does"
http://www.catster.com/LIFESTYLE/DOES-YOUR-CAT-GO-THROUGH-LIFE-ON-HIS-BACK-BELLY-PICTURES
Art featured in Cat Writers' Association booklet
The 22nd Annual Cat Writers’ Association Communications Contest Awards Banquet was held on June 24, 2016 at the Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa in Phoenix, AZ in conjunction with the 2016 BlogPaws Conference. One of my pieces of art, a cat named “Louie,” was featured in the awards program booklet. See page 26 in the PDF available by clicking on the link below.
Jack and Forest in page-a-day 2017 calendars
An image of my cat, Jack, was selected to be in the 2017 edition of the Workman publishing 365 Cats page-a-day calendar (featured on February 28, 2017). They say this is the "Best selling cat calendar with 9.8 million copies sold"
My cat, Forest, is a celebrity too! He is featured in their 2017 Bad Cat page-a-day calendar AND their wall calendar.
He is their St. Patrick's Day kitty - wearing his green leprechaun hat (featured on March 17, 2017)
My cat, Forest, is a celebrity too! He is featured in their 2017 Bad Cat page-a-day calendar AND their wall calendar.
He is their St. Patrick's Day kitty - wearing his green leprechaun hat (featured on March 17, 2017)
A thank you note from readers of my books
A beautiful thank you note from children in a day care who received signed copies of all three of my children's books. (2016)
Prints at UofI
Prints of my artwork, shown in this image, used to hang in the University of Illinois Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Champaign-Urbana, Ill. As of 2016, they are now displayed in different offices around the college.
Children enjoying my books
"I just wanted you to know that the kindness and love you show in your children's books are priceless and very much appreciated! My Travis snuck the 'What if the Moon' book into his crib last night. He wanted to go to sleep with it! He is learning his colors and loves the cookie page."
- Amy T.
- Amy T.
Blogger Jeffrey Welch
shared one of my pet stories from Dogster.com
"What if the Moon..." sold on Walmart.com
I found my book "What if the Moon..." is sold through Walmart.com Click the button below to visit that site.
Fine Lines creative writing journals 2018
My poetry and photography appears in the Spring, Summer and Autumn 2018 editions of Fine Lines creative writing journal based in Nebraska.
See Fine Lines via this link: Fine Lines
Companion Animal Memorial Fund cards
Four images of my graphite drawings are now (as of 2018) featured on the cover of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine (Urbana, Il.) Companion Animal Memorial Fund card. People (mostly vet clinics) donate money to the CAMF in memory or honor of a loved one’s pet. The UofI then sends a card to the pet owner. Cards are 7 ¼ inches square and approximately 5,000 are mailed out each year to families expressing sympathy from vet clinics and personal donors to the CAMF.
See more information about the CAMF by clicking on this link: CAMF
See more information about the CAMF by clicking on this link: CAMF
WagtheDogUK.com news
WagtheDogUK.com shared news about earning second place in the 2018 Illinois Woman's Press Association Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest, for the category of Web and Social Media, Blogs, Personal. Click this button to see the story.
Cloud Jumpers seen on IB Library page
"Cloud Jumpers" is featured on The IB Library web page. Click this button to view the book.
Art in Cat Writers' Association booklets
Some of my drawings were featured in program booklets from the 23rd and 24th Annual Cat Writers’ Association Communications Contest Awards Banquets (2017 and 2018). See my art in the booklets by clicking on the links below. Two booklet pages with images are also shown here.
Folio: Eddie and Ozzie Awards 2018
Tracy Ahrens received an Honorable Mention for her blog post, I Still Am, in the 2018 Folio: Eddie and Ozzie Awards, the most prestigious and inclusive awards program in the publishing community.
Results of the national contest were announced at a gala Oct. 9, 2018 in New York City.
Ahrens’ blog was shared in a print edition of CURE magazine and is posted in their online edition.
Each year, over 2,000 entries in the Eddie and Ozzie Awards compete across 200 categories that recognize excellence in editorial and design. This year, a panel of industry judges narrowed more than 2,500 entries into a pool of roughly 800 finalists. In total, 263 awards were given.
“It is a tremendous honor that CURE magazine has been recognized as a finalist in the Folio: Eddie and Ozzie Awards,” said Michael J. Hennessy Jr., president of MJH Associates Inc., parent company of CURE Media Group. CURE received four honorable mentions. “This recognition clearly demonstrates how hard the whole team works to furthering our mission in providing valuable information to patients, caregivers and survivors of cancer.”
The Eddie and Ozzie Awards program, spanning all corners of the magazine publishing industry, recognizes the best in editorial and design. Finalists included designs and journalism from companies like: AARP, Meredith Corporation, National Geographic, Playboy, Scholastic Inc. and Travel + Leisure.
CURE Media Group’s flagship product, CURE magazine, is the indispensable guide to every stage of the cancer experience. With nearly 1 million readers, CURE is the largest consumer publication in the United States focused entirely on cancer, with broad distribution to cancer patients, cancer centers and advocacy groups.
News was shared on BusinessWire.com. Click link below.
Results of the national contest were announced at a gala Oct. 9, 2018 in New York City.
Ahrens’ blog was shared in a print edition of CURE magazine and is posted in their online edition.
Each year, over 2,000 entries in the Eddie and Ozzie Awards compete across 200 categories that recognize excellence in editorial and design. This year, a panel of industry judges narrowed more than 2,500 entries into a pool of roughly 800 finalists. In total, 263 awards were given.
“It is a tremendous honor that CURE magazine has been recognized as a finalist in the Folio: Eddie and Ozzie Awards,” said Michael J. Hennessy Jr., president of MJH Associates Inc., parent company of CURE Media Group. CURE received four honorable mentions. “This recognition clearly demonstrates how hard the whole team works to furthering our mission in providing valuable information to patients, caregivers and survivors of cancer.”
The Eddie and Ozzie Awards program, spanning all corners of the magazine publishing industry, recognizes the best in editorial and design. Finalists included designs and journalism from companies like: AARP, Meredith Corporation, National Geographic, Playboy, Scholastic Inc. and Travel + Leisure.
CURE Media Group’s flagship product, CURE magazine, is the indispensable guide to every stage of the cancer experience. With nearly 1 million readers, CURE is the largest consumer publication in the United States focused entirely on cancer, with broad distribution to cancer patients, cancer centers and advocacy groups.
News was shared on BusinessWire.com. Click link below.
Forest featured in "365 Cats"
Page-a-day 2019 calendar
A photo of my Forest will be showcased in the 2019 Workman Publishing (NY) “365 Cats” Page-a-day calendar. He is shown for St Patrick’s Day.
This is the "Best selling cat calendar with 10 million copies sold.”
Their page-a-day calendars are made to stand upright on a desk or such. The calendars come in a glossy box.
You can find them in varied stores and order through Amazon.com or through the following link. Click on the buttons for ordering information!
This is the "Best selling cat calendar with 10 million copies sold.”
Their page-a-day calendars are made to stand upright on a desk or such. The calendars come in a glossy box.
You can find them in varied stores and order through Amazon.com or through the following link. Click on the buttons for ordering information!