Check me out in Birmingham News! I feel honored to have been spotlighted as an agent of change.

The Children's Book Review is hosting a giveaway of Alex and Tony Help Stop Bullying !!  Enter to win one of two autographed copies now! Giveaway ends February 8.

One day during recess, twin brothers Alex and Tony see their friend EJ standing alone and looking very sad. After talking to him, they find out that EJ isn't playing because he was told he couldn't, by a bully named Manny in his class. EJ tells Alex and Tony that Manny has been bothering him for quite some time and he's afraid. At home, the siblings discuss EJ's problem with their parents and learn all about bullying. Alex and Tony are worried about their friend and realize that it's their responsibility to help.

Author Antonee Boykin addresses the serious issue of bullying in her second book in the Alex and Tony series. Alex and Tony Help Stop Bullying uses simple but expressive language to pull the reader into the troubled world of a young boy dealing with the fear of another child. The story successfully conveys the severity of bullying, while using problem solving examples to help children know what to do if faced with a similar dilemma.

As with the author's first book, Alex and Tony Learn to be Gentlemen, Alex and Tony's parents are instrumental in their understanding. The brothers gain insight into what bullying is, and how important it is for them to help their friend through talking with their parents. This book emphasizes the significance of communication between adults and children, which can be seen through the relationship Alex and Tony share with their mother and father. Alex and Tony Help Stop Bullying is a classroom, household, and library necessity for K-3 children.

I'm pleased to announce that "Alex and Tony Help Stop Bullying" is near completion!! I was fortunate enough to work with Dia Reddo again on the illustrations and if I must say so myself, the story and pictures are great! More information will be available soon regarding when it can be purchased. 

Jim Reed, the owner of Reed's Books, so graciously has accepted, "Alex and Tony Learn to be Gentlemen" in his book store! Jim Reed Books is located in downtown Birmingham (Alabama) on 2021 Third Avenue North. I encourage all locals to go and pick up a signed copy today!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being a presenter at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School's annual Ultimate Author Day (UAD)! Just to give a brief description of UAD, it is AWESOME! The students at this school have all written books or scripts for short films (older students) and this day is a celebration of their accomplishments! The school invites authors, writers, news personalities, etc. to share their time with the students and I was gratefully chosen!

(I was in B101 for the day. Things were so nicely organized, and with the exception of a slight misspelling of my name, everything was perfect!)

I spoke with three grades over the course of the day and had a blast! I shared, "Alex and Tony Learn to be Gentlemen" with them and we engaged in great, entertaining discussions.  I hope they enjoyed me as much as I enjoyed them.  The event was well organized and to make me feel even more special I was given an escort for the day.  Her name was Mrs. Vicki Fadlevich, and I couldn't have been with a better person for the day! I hope she doesn't mind the "shout out." 

I wasn't able to get any pictures of me interacting with the students but I did get a few pics of the awesome books that the kids wrote. I was so pleased with the very idea of this event, and I hope the kids continue to write throughout their lives!

Can be found here ::

The Children's Book Review has drawn two winners for the "Alex and Tony Learn to be Gentlemen" giveaway! Congrats to Julie Bergeron of Leominster, MA and Mary J. Coward of Dillon, SC!  I hope they enjoy!!!

MEEEE!!

So O Magazine had this "Six Word Memoir Challenge" where basically you use six words that tells your life story.  Of the thousands who enterered, I was one of the chosen few.  I feel great! And to think it all started on November 1 with this email from Dia Reddo....

Just in case you can't read the overly cropped email it says,

 "You need to do this 6 word memoir!!! It'll be a real challenge, but I think you could come up with something unreal! Please enter Antonee!!!" 

After God, I'm really thankful to Dia for believing this was something I could do

I was contacted by several people and interviewed over the course of a few weeks.  I wasn't really sure if they had chosen to include me.  Last night as I was in line at WalMart I saw the Feb. issue and immediately started flipping through the pages.  I got to page 128 and low and behold there I was!!! LOL!!!! I really can't explain my happiness right now.  What an awesome way for me to begin the year and what an awesome birthday gift!!! (January 26 is the actual day).  Thank YOU GOD!!!

Well, it's almost a New Year!! I'm excited about all of the great opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead.  Earlier today, "The Children's Book Review"  posted a giveaway for "Alex and Tony Learn to be Gentlemen" that will last until January 28.  Enter to win a copy of the book here!!  Good Luck and Happy New Year!!