In the Local Orange County Register--World Down Syndrome Day!

[Guest guest]

I sent info to our local column in the Orange County Register about the Petition and World Down syndrome Day and she included it in her weekly column! It's after the info about Author Jodi Picoult. (I pasted in the text in case the link doesn't work)

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/picoult-down-syndrome-2000604-rancho-know

'Round the Rancho: Author Jodi Picoult returns to Rancho Santa Margarita

She'll sign books on Thursday, March 27 at Borders.

By JANET WHITCOMB

CONTRIBUTOR

Comments 0| Recommend 0

Anyone who has ever written a school report or term paper knows that first sentence can be a bear. But first sentence angst also happens to community columnists and even best-selling authors. Jodi Picoult, for example.

"It actually takes a very long time – most of the research phase of my books," she told me during a recent online interview. "It's sort of feels like a tornado in my head. I know I've nailed it if I want to keep reading."

As book sales testify, those who pick up Jodi Picoult's novels definitely want to keep reading. Jodi is a prolific writer who has written one novel a year for the past 15 years. And here in Rancho we're especially lucky: On Thursday, March 27, Picoult will visit our local Borders bookstore for the fourth consecutive year. Beginning at 7 p.m. she'll read from her latest novel, "Change of Heart," then answer questions and participate in a book signing.

Those of you who've already stopped by Borders to purchase your copy know the book goes in different directions from previous Picoult novels. But to expect the unexpected is one of the many joys of reading her books. Her novels, as she told me, come about because "I'm asking myself questions about the world I'm living in now."

Picoult's research is both prodigious and unconventional. "Change of Heart," for example, involved visiting an Arizona prison's death row and took some extra convincing to be allowed in. While in-flight from her New Hampshire home she learned prison officials had decided to revoke her permission to visit.

Undaunted, upon arrival Picoult convinced them to allow her entry, then once inside requested additional permission to inspect "the Death House, as it used to be called." As she examined the gas chamber the warden approached and the questioning began again.

"We started talking about the last execution in Arizona and at some point she mentioned she was a practicing Catholic. 'If you're Catholic,' I said, 'do you think the death penalty is a good thing?' She stared at me for a long moment, then said, 'I used to.' From that moment on, the wall between us came down and she was willing to tell me everything I wanted and needed to know."

By the way, in case you think "Change of Heart" involved harrowing research, wait until you hear Picoult talk about her 2009 novel, "Handle With Care," which involves a mom filing a lawsuit against her doctor, who also happens to be her best friend, and as Picoult told me, "This novel's about the things that break apart in times of stress: Bones, friendships, families." So to the uninitiated, a warning: Jodi Picoult books are not only entertaining and thought provoking, but definitely not for the faint of heart.

Borders is at 22372 El Paseo in Rancho Santa Margarita. Information: .

Up With Downs

Back in the '80s, a close friend of mine and her husband learned their firstborn, , had Down syndrome. The ensuing years included the birth of two more children without Down syndrome. Things were, at times, admittedly challenging. These days, however, is a happy and productive young man who holds a job and participates in a theater arts group.

I mention this after receiving a message from Rancho residents and Rick McElwee who want us to know that March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day (check out www.worlddownsyndromeday.org) for more information.

A number of Rancho families, theirs included, have a child with Down syndrome.

A petition has been posted at www.thepetitionsite.com/1/DS-advocacy which will be sent to Congress in support of the upcoming Prenatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act. This act is designed to educate medical professionals on the abilities of those with Down syndrome and in how to deliver a prenatal diagnosis.

The McElwees invite you to read the petition and, if you agree, to sign it. "We're over 1,475 signatures," said , "But could use more support." I've done so in honor of as well as the families here in Rancho and hope you will check it out as well.

Contact the writer: or Whitcombjl@...

, Mom to 14, DS, Southern CaliforniaTo succeed in life,you need three things:a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.~ Reba McIntyre

Diagnosis Down Syndrome: A Site of Hope for New Parents or Parents with a Prenatal Diagnosishttp://www.leeworks.net/DDS/What to Say to Parents of a Child with a Diagnosishttp://www.leeworks.net/DDS/speech.html

[Guest guest]

Wow!! good for you!

From: DownSyndromeInfoExchange

[mailto:DownSyndromeInfoExchange ] On Behalf Of

McElwee

Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 1:23 AM

To: DownSyndromeInfoExchange ; Down Syndrome

Cc: Kristi Golden

Subject: [DownSyndromeInfoExchange] In the Local Orange County

Register--World Down Syndrome Day!

I sent info

to our local column in the Orange County Register about the Petition and World

Down syndrome Day and she included it in her weekly column! It's after the info

about Author Jodi Picoult. (I pasted in the text in case the link doesn't work)

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/picoult-down-syndrome-2000604-rancho-know

'Round the Rancho: Author

Jodi Picoult returns to Rancho Santa Margarita

She'll sign books on

Thursday, March 27 at Borders.

By

JANET WHITCOMB

CONTRIBUTOR

Comments

0| Recommend 0

Anyone who

has ever written a school report or term paper knows that first sentence can be

a bear. But first sentence angst also happens to community columnists and even

best-selling authors. Jodi Picoult, for example.

" It

actually takes a very long time – most of the research phase of my books, "

she told me during a recent online interview. " It's sort of feels

like a tornado in my head. I know I've nailed it if I want to keep

reading. "

As book

sales testify, those who pick up Jodi Picoult's novels definitely want to keep

reading. Jodi is a prolific writer who has written one novel a year for the

past 15 years. And here in Rancho we're especially lucky: On Thursday, March

27, Picoult will visit our local Borders bookstore for the fourth consecutive

year. Beginning at 7 p.m. she'll read from her latest novel, " Change of

Heart, " then answer questions and participate in a book signing.

Those of you

who've already stopped by Borders to purchase your copy know the book goes in

different directions from previous Picoult novels. But to expect the unexpected

is one of the many joys of reading her books. Her novels, as she told me, come

about because " I'm asking myself questions about the world I'm living in

now. "

Picoult's

research is both prodigious and unconventional. " Change of Heart, "

for example, involved visiting an Arizona prison's death row and took some

extra convincing to be allowed in. While in-flight from her New Hampshire home

she learned prison officials had decided to revoke her permission to visit.

Undaunted,

upon arrival Picoult convinced them to allow her entry, then once inside

requested additional permission to inspect " the Death House, as it used to

be called. " As she examined the gas chamber the warden approached and the

questioning began again.

" We

started talking about the last execution in Arizona and at some point she

mentioned she was a practicing Catholic. 'If you're Catholic,' I said, 'do you

think the death penalty is a good thing?' She stared at me for a long moment,

then said, 'I used to.' From that moment on, the wall between us came down and

she was willing to tell me everything I wanted and needed to know. "

By the way,

in case you think " Change of Heart " involved harrowing research, wait

until you hear Picoult talk about her 2009 novel, " Handle With Care, "

which involves a mom filing a lawsuit against her doctor, who also happens to

be her best friend, and as Picoult told me, " This novel's about the things

that break apart in times of stress: Bones, friendships, families. " So to

the uninitiated, a warning: Jodi Picoult books are not only entertaining and

thought provoking, but definitely not for the faint of heart.

Borders is

at 22372 El Paseo in Rancho Santa Margarita. Information: .

Up With

Downs

Back in the

'80s, a close friend of mine and her husband learned their firstborn,

, had Down syndrome. The ensuing years included the birth of two

more children without Down syndrome. Things were, at times, admittedly

challenging. These days, however, is a happy and productive young man who

holds a job and participates in a theater arts group.

I mention

this after receiving a message from Rancho residents and Rick McElwee

who want us to know that March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day (check out www.worlddownsyndromeday.org)

for more information.

A number of

Rancho families, theirs included, have a child with Down syndrome.

A petition

has been posted at www.thepetitionsite.com/1/DS-advocacy which will be

sent to Congress in support of the upcoming Prenatally Diagnosed Conditions

Awareness Act. This act is designed to educate medical professionals on the

abilities of those with Down syndrome and in how to deliver a prenatal

diagnosis.

The McElwees

invite you to read the petition and, if you agree, to sign it. " We're over

1,475 signatures, " said , " But could use more support. "

I've done so in honor of as well as the families here in Rancho and hope

you will check it out as well.

Contact

the writer:

or Whitcombjl@...

,

Mom to 14, DS, Southern California

To succeed in life,

you need three things:

a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.

~ Reba McIntyre

Diagnosis Down Syndrome: A Site of Hope for New Parents or Parents with a

Prenatal Diagnosis

http://www.leeworks.net/DDS/

What to Say to Parents of a Child with a Diagnosis

http://www.leeworks.net/DDS/speech.html