Andrea Campbell’s Newsletter

January/February 2002

*** Greetings! ***
This newsletter is being sent to you because you are a writer, family member, professional friend of Andrea’s, or a fan and reader of her books. If you are new to the list, welcome. I promise not to divulge your name or give your email address to any other business or mailing list. If you are receiving this letter for the first time, I hope it meets with your approval and you will continue to read and enjoy it.

Have questions, comments, or ideas for future publication? I look forward to your input and never turn down "helpful hints." This newsletter is a continued work-in-progress and I hope you will stay around to see new features in every bi-monthly issue.
---------------------------------------------------------
I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year
---------------------------------------------------------

*** My 15 Minutes Closing In ***

I just got the postcard from NBC studios, my segment on the gameshow TO TELL THE TRUTH will be airing January 8, 2002! The show broadcasts here in Arkansas on KARK, Channel 4, at 10:30 in the morning, right after Family Feud. (Check your own listings for channel and time in your area.) Okay, friends, this is your chance to guess Who is the real Andrea Campbell! Will she be smart? Funny? Kinda ugly? Play the game, see photos of Ziggy, and take a guess because soon you will hear …"Will the real Andrea Campbell please stand up!"


*** More Attention ***

And, as if that weren’t enough, I just received notice that another book I am featured in is now on the market! Yes, Pamela Grout’s book entitled: LIVING BIG: Embrace Your Passion and Leap into an Extraordinary Life, published by Conari Press is here! It is trade paper, lists for $15.95 and is available at all online stores, including brick-and-mortar booksellers. Pamela is a stringer for People magazine, along with other things, and one terrific person. My congratulations to Pam, and my advice to you: Go out and buy her book!


*** Party Mood ***

2001 was difficult for many people, for many reasons. But if you went to a party this holiday season, were you surprised to discover that you actually got involved and had fun? The whole idea of interactive parties is to allow people to "get out of themselves," to be a kid again, if only for an evening. If you’d like to keep that momentum going, or would just like to host a gig of your own, think about getting a copy of GREAT GAMES FOR GREAT PARTIES, or my new games/party book, PERFECT PARTY GAMES. Both are in the ten dollar range, and make thoughtful gifts. In that spirit then, here is an easy sample game that is sure to be a hit!

Name of the game: Map of Treasure Island
# of players: Any
Type: Pre-party contest

Supplies: Draw a large map of an imaginary island with as many different features as possible. Divide the map into small squares by inking in horizontal lines from top to bottom (number those lines) and vertical lines from left to right (give those lines letters). Make or buy small flags with pins attached (one for each guest), and write a guest’s name on each one.

Formation: Casual mingling.

Object of the game: To stake your claim.

Play action: Decide upon the place where the treasure is hidden—choose an intersection, such as C5 or G7. Decide on a few other places for "traps" and note these intersections, too. Affix the map to a board—foam board is great for this— and place it in a prominent position.

As guests arrive, invite them to stake their claim to the treasure by sticking their flag on any intersection of lines. Later in the evening, after a break for refreshments, declare the winner (the flag nearest the treasure spot) and give a prize. The unfortunates who stuck their flag on a trap, however, must pay a forfeit.
Adaptation: Pressed for time? Use any map that has a grid pattern.

*** Speaking of Parties ***

Here is an email I recently received from a lady named Alice Sackman, who calls herself a "a devoted Game apprentice." Alice’s letter helps me to remember the real benefits of being a writer, I share it here with you:

Dear Ms. Campbell,

I just wanted to say thanks for turning me on to GAMES! Wow! I've been using your "Great Games" book for a couple of years now, and everyone just loves the games. I get such a rush out of getting a group of people so wound up! I agree with you, I love being the GAMEMASTER and wouldn't trade it for the world, it is a thrill. Although, on the other hand, I have never been invited to a game party, at least not a good one. I am not going to count those tedious baby and bridal showers everyone throws.

I am definitely going to have to get your newest Party book. And, by the way, I have laughed out loud at some of your games! I have had great success with "Socks & Gloves". I love playing that with a new group. I sell it as a "Sock-Putting-On competition" and leave out the gloves and blindfolds while I am rounding up volunteers. Then, when they are poised in front of the socks waiting for me to say go, I say, "OH! I almost forgot! You have to wear gloves and Blindfolds!!!!" LOL

Anyway, I am rambling. I am gearing up for a Saturday Xmas party and my adrenaline is thru the roof! Got your book by my side! Thanks Again!

A devoted Game apprentice,
Alice Sackman


*** Mailbag ***

This must be the time for letters. Another email I recently received is more good news for my head (I gloat). This time from Sherry who ordered BRINGING UP ZIGGY:

Hello, I wanted to Thank You for the book. I stayed up half the night reading it after promising myself that I would limit my reading to 10 pages a day to make it last. I read up to page 60 before I stopped. I wish you could write another one before I finish this one LOL LOL. Again Thank You for writing such a delightful book. Ziggy is a true treasure.

SHERRY
---------------------
*** Correction:

Remember in the last newsletter I told you about meeting local poet extraordinaire Andrea Hollander Budy, at the Barnes and Noble World’s Largest Writing Workshop? Do you recall that she gave us great jump-start ideas for writer’s malaise? Okay, now you’re with me! Well, anyway, I failed to mention Andrea’s current collection of poems, The Other Life (Story Line Press, 2001). Look for Andrea’s work, we could all use some lyrical and thought-provoking inspiration.
------------------------

*** Congratulations! ***

Congratulations are in order the for winner of the "find an error in spelling" contest in the last issue of Soups On! Happy Dodson (love that name) was the first person to find the word "eventauly" and let me know about it. In fact, I believe she responded within an hour of posting the newsletter! Happy received a copy of PERFECT PARTY GAMES for her quick response, and if she invites you to her house for a party, it oughta be fun.

And guess what? There was a "booby prize" that I hadn’t planned on. I failed to realize that there were actually TWO misspelled words in the Nov/Dec issue. The other mistake was found in a web site introduction, (the address led to autopsy information). Some clever former editor of mine was happy to point out that I had spelled "Dr. Skully" incorrectly. That, in fact, the medical examiner from X-Files is really a Dr. Scully. So Brenda Scott Royce of Los Angeles, California, is the recipient of a copy of GREAT GAMES FOR GREAT PARTIES. I guess that’s why she is such a good editor—and a good friend, "Thanks, Brenda."
-------------------------------

*** Life After Out-of-Print ***

For an author of books, I don’t think anything hurts quite so much as the letter that tells you your baby is going out of print. And no matter how long the title has been off the market, each longing look at the cover causes a sting—especially if you’ve invested a long period of time in its creation. That’s why, when the American Society of Journalists and Authors entered into an opportunity for Books-on-Demand with iUniverse, I jumped at the chance.

The reissue of YOUR CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE took place in 2000 and was free for ASJA-ers! (The benefits of professional membership at work!) In any event, I am pleased to announce that with next-to-no-prodding from me, my little journal book is selling again and the royalties are a regular, electronic deposit into my writing account. There is life after out-of-print! In that spirit then, here is another exercise from YOUR CORNER. . .

* YOUR CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE: A Guide to Self-Therapy Through Journal Writing
* Category: Journals/Writing/Psychology
* Reading Level: Adults
* Trade Paperback
* ISBN: 0-595-14125-0
* Size 6" X 9" 162 pages
* Retail price $12.95
ASJA Press/iUniverse

Excerpt from YOUR CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE:

Worry. Mary McClure Goulding, a psychotherapist and coauthor of the book Not to Worry, says, "Worry is only useful for the certain amount of time it takes you to decide what you’re going to do to make the worry not come true." For example, if your worry is keeping you up at night, the time is well spent if it leads you to rewrite that under-researched proposal you skimped on, make an apology that’s eating at you, or make you decide to get a breast exam; if, that is, worry does not preclude action. The time is not well spent if you are worrying about hypothetical dangers or problems over which you have no control. "What if I got sick? What if the roof falls in?" (Of course, if you think there’s any danger of that, then do something!)

Unsent Letters. There are a lot of old-school preconceptions surrounding worry. Write a letter to your worry: "Dear Worry . . ." In the letter, try to determine why you worry. Do you feel that by worrying you could be avoiding bad news? Is it an excuse to not think about something else? Is there superstition in your worrying; do you secretly believe that if you worry about something, it’s less likely to happen?

Tell worry in your letter that you are not going to try to resist it. Changes are, if you try not to think about the problem, your unwanted thoughts will only keep reappearing until they occupy center stage.

Stare it in the face. If, instead, you accept your worry, you can desensitize yourself to it by allotting it a specific chunk of time. To give a specific worry your full concentration, set aside the same time every day, say a half-hour period when you are free from distraction, interruptions, and outside influences, and jot down notes. You’ll want to end your worry period with a plan of action.

In a study conducted by Elwood Robinson, a psychology professor, distraught subjects were told to do nothing but worry for a full thirty minutes. Many found this a daunting task and ". . . maxed out after ten or fifteen minutes," he says.
----------------------

*** Web Site Store ***
Yippee! You can now order "autographed" books directly from my web site at: http://www.andreacampbell.com Click on the button in the left margin that says "Buy Books." With the help of PayPal, I am able to take credit card orders, check payment, or online debit. The shopping cart offers a secure service and you will be able to get customized autographed books for gifts, friends or for yourself.
-------------------------------------

*** It Was Only A Matter of Time ***

BRINGING UP ZIGGY
For Release 9 a.m. EDT December 3, 2001

AFTER ALMOST 13 YEARS, ZIGGY WILL BE LEAVING FOSTER MOM ANDREA CAMPBELL FOR HELPING HANDS HEADQUARTERS—TO BE TRAINED FOR SERVICE AS A HELPER/COMPANION TO A QUADRIPLEGIC

HELPING HANDS IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, AR February, 2002 : Ziggy Campbell, a Helping Hands capuchin monkey, will be leaving home for further education as a helper/companion to a quadriplegic. The Helping Hands facility in Boston, MA, will be the site for her training and transition. She is scheduled to leave the first week in February 2002.

• Ziggy is a capuchin monkey who was born on Discovery Island in Walt Disney World, FL.
• A capuchin’s life span is approximately 35-45 years.

Her departure will be painful for foster mom, Andrea Campbell

"Yes, we always knew what the end result would be and we have always believed that Ziggy will be the best gift ever. I have raised her as a child though, and it will leave a gaping hole in my heart to see her finally leave us. My children grew up with the Zigster, we got her at the tender age of five weeks."

1. Ziggy is the subject of the book BRINGING UP ZIGGY: What Raising A Helping Hands Monkey Taught Me About Love, Commitment, and Sacrifice, written by author Andrea Campbell.
2. Monkeys are intelligent, agile, and love to manipulate objects.
3. Thought to be the smartest of all monkey species, capuchins form a bond with humans.
4. Ziggy has been the subject of countless newspaper articles, radio and television shows and is featured on a segment of TO TELL THE TRUTH (still to air).

For more information and photos of Ziggy, you can visit Andrea Campbell’s web site. The URL is: www.andreacampbell.com Just click on either the book link "Bringing Up Ziggy," or visit Ziggy’s own web page using the button "Monkey."

For an interview, quotes, or hardcopy information, send email to: campbell@arkansas.net

###
-----------------------------------------

Future Newsletters
In upcoming newsletters I hope to answer reader’s questions, share a new story or two, talk more about publishing, and provide additional writer’s tips. If there is any area of my life or work you would like to discuss, from autopsy to monkeys, just send me a note. Thanks for the read. : 0 )

Copyright©2002 Andrea Campbell If you wish to quote from here fine, just attribute it to me and my web site.