The SAWEET T-shirt hoodies are from Canvas and are 100% combed ringspun cotten.  These SAWEET HOODIES are super soft and cozy like a T-shirt should be and currently only available in adult M, L, and XL.  We are looking for youth sizes, but haven’t found any T-shirt maker who makes a hoodie for kids.  Crazy, I know.  They are available for $27.00 plus tax and shipping.

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One of the best things about being an author is reading to children.  There is an indescribable feeling (even for the most seasoned writer) when you glance up from the page and see the ignition of interest in the eyes of your audience.  When your audience is 400 ‘tweenage’ children at a time, this feeling is not only a rush of energy, it drives me to never stop doing what I do…no matter what.

On a recent author visit, I began my hour-long assembly like I always do…by reading from the pages of Saltwater Taffy.  After two or three chapters, and sensing when the hook of interest is set, I snap the book shut and begin talking to the kids about the adventure of growing up.  You see, Saltwater Taffy gets me in the door, but the real adventure for me is to inspire our children to become confident young men and women.

Growing up in the age of instant news and gossip with Facebook, one can only imagine how tough it is for a tween to find their way.   This is why I am here.  While it is always inspiring when a teachers says, “Your message of believing in who you are and to never worry about what other people think of you is something our kids really needed to hear,” the main reason I am here is to teach our children the habit of love by moving them away from a habit of fear, doubt and worry.

While feedback from parents and teachers is always nice to hear, I want to share a special moment that that happened while I was one the road.  After the mob of autograph seekers (and when I say mob, I do mean mob) I noticed a 5th grade girl hanging back even when the other kids ran off to recess.  Sensing she was shy about asking for an autograph, I walked up and asked if she wanted me to sign her Saltwater Taffy bookmark.  She held up a signed bookmark and said, “can I have a hug?”

If you want to talk about the ultimate reward for an author, this was it for me.  Sure, watching Saltwater Taffy become a best-selling children’s book is cool, the moment with this little girl was one of my most special Saltwater Taffy moments.  This is why I do what I do and will continue to do that I do.

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Set during the 4th of July weekend and perfect for summer reading, Saltwater Taffy follows the lives of five ‘tween-age’ friends as they embark on an epic journey of treasure hunting adventure and self-discovery.

“A perfect read for the summer.  A wonderful, fun-filled adventure for all ages.”

Sharon Andrews
Teacher of the Year

The adventure begins when the friends find a treasure map belonging to the great New Orleans pirate, Jean Lafitte.  The discovery thrusts them from one treasure-hunting adventure to the next as they try to out-wit, out-maneuver and out-think everyone from the town bully, their limiting beliefs of what’s possible, to the creepy old man living at the top of the hill.

Endorsed 12 Teacher’s of the Year, Saltwater Taffy is an Accelerated Reader title and children’s book club favorite.  I believe summer reading is a perfect way to show our children that every moment is an adventure…waiting to happen.

We love getting 5 Star Summer Reading Reviews for Saltwater Taffy!  This latest review comes through Amazon’s website listing for Saltwater Taffy and well, this is a reason we keep marketing our tails off so we can make Saltwater Taffy a book that every child is aware of.

As the world continues to speed up, at what appears to be a blistering pace of disconnecting connections,  I think it’s important for us to create messages from the heart and FOR the heart.  If we don’t teach our children the importance of listening inward, who will?  Saltwater Taffy is a perfect read for the summer.

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The power of thought continues to be a paradox.  While we have more people realizing, celebrating and sharing the power of thought, we are failing to master the concept.

If we can agree, for even a brief second, that our ‘thoughts are energy,’ why would anyone deny their greatness by choosing runaway thoughts of fear, doubt and worry?  Why would we even entertain a thought that makes us feel less than the whole person we deserve to be?

Television, which is doing everything but “telling us a vision,” is filled with programming where hatred and greed is put on the stage for the world to see.  I don’t understand why people tune into these reality shows, which are devoted to feeding the voyeuristic gluttony of the American public.  These shows are bad soap operas trying to pass themselves off as something of important.

If the power of thought is endless, then I would like to address those pesky little thoughts of fear that try and tear us down.  To those little life sucker thoughts, I quote one of my heros…Oscar winner, Aaron Sorkin.  In an episode of the West Wing, he writes:

“ALL HACKS OFF THE STAGE”

If we consider our mind as the stage, the hacks are those thoughts that only further our dysfunctional thinking process.  Hack-filled thoughts keep us from achieving greatness.  Hack-filled thoughts try and trick us into thinking we shouldn’t do something even though our heart tells us we should.

As a former hack, I am now grateful to be among those of us who choose to think UP and not DOWN, despite the external circumstances shown to us in the media.

I am grateful to find the inspiration to write a book like Saltwater Taffy.  Endorsed by 12 Teachers of the year, this book not only takes our children on journey of adventure, but it also teaches them to listen to something I call the heart compass.  This heart compass is that internal ‘ping’ that drives us towards love.  All hacks off the stage, my heart compass is taking over!

I am by no means an expert on the mind.  I am, however, a student of the mind.  I have been working on my thinking mind for most of my life and I am again, grateful for the  man I am becoming.  I am grateful that I am aware of the power that each thought carries.

I say all of this because of the adventure I am on with my wife Julie, and our beautiful daughter Emery.  I also grateful for the life now living in my wife’s belly.  Yes, Taffy Heads….that’s right, we’re pregnant!  For this and so many other reasons,  I am now constantly looking for ways to become more conscious of who I am and this begins with the things I am willing to give my attention to.  My attention is on my family and to be in service of children of our country.  I want to help them understand and realize –

“WHAT I THINK AOBUT MATTERS”

Does this mean I am without thoughts of failure, regret or frustration along my journey?  No.  After all, I am human, but that’s the point I am trying to make.  What is it about the human mind that causes us to give light to these hack-filled negative thoughts?  Why does the mind allow us to destroy our dreams or aspirations with a runaway hack-filled thought of fear?  Imagine where I would be if I thought Saltwater Taffy wasn’t something special?  Working on some crime show and wondering what would’ve been if I believe in my dream to see Saltwater Taffy on the big screen.  All hacks off the stage.  I like where I am and what I am devoting my life to.

Is it the epic battle of the ego and thoughts of good vs. evil?  Is it a conditional response to the world we are now living in?  My journey of moving Saltwater Taffy onto the national stage as a ‘non-celebrity’ is difficult with all the malicious hypnotism…I mean, marketing and programming….targeted at us and our children.

Is it the fault of our media or the celebrity infatuated society we have created where people want to be famous for the sake of being famous?  Do they even understand the loss of personal freedom that comes with being a celebrity?  Whatever the reason, I say this to the thinking mind that tries to destroy my dreams:

“ALL HACKS OFF THE STAGE”

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For all the people of Boston, we send you this note of love.  We support and love you.  As I sit in my office in Santa Monica, I am not sure what drives a person to do these acts of terror, but I know this…things like this are acts of mad men.

This makes me wonder about our culture and how we respond to acts of terror.  Why does it take something like this to happen…something like Sandy Hook…and the Colorado Theater shooting for us to come together?  After 911 happened, people went about their lives with more of a focus towards love.  Why can’t we focus on love for one another without the act of terror to drive us there?

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Saltwater Taffy offers everyday wisdom for kids.  The book is a different kind of children’s book in that it not only entertains the young reader with an epic treasure hunting adventure, but it teaches them along the way. Now endorsed by 12 Teachers around the country, Saltwater Taffy is an Accelerated Reader title, a children’s book club favorite, an award-winning children’s book which is about to become a major motion picture for the entire family.

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While this might seem like simple advice for kids of all ages, I believe it can be an ideal we all can live by.  As the world continues to quicken at an alarming pace, we must always remember that the friendships we have today are the memories we’ll cherish tomorrow.

Going a bit further with this thought, I believe the only thing that matters in life is how deeply we can not only FEEL and accept our feelings of love for ourselves and others, but how deeply we can open up and share those feelings with the rest of the world…no matter who they are.

Why not live a life where love is the order of each and every day?  Why not live a life where we actively look for more ways to show, share, and accept love?  As a new father, I am constantly amazed at how openly my daughter loves.  She hasn’t yet learned the disability of hiding her feelings of love and constantly expresses it for anyone who enters her life.

Yesterday we went on an adventure down to the Santa Monica Pier so Emery could ride the carousel.  The absolute joy she has riding the bunny, which goes “up and down, up and down,” is something that can make anyone smile.  As I watch others watching her having so much fun, it too makes me smile, but that’s not the point of this posting.  The point is this –

Walking back to the car and on our way to the swings, which she affectionately refers to as WEEEEEEE, we passed a very strange looking man playing a guitar.  The man had this weird headband on, a scarf over his face, dark glasses, and carried the grime of living on the streets of Santa Monica.  Normally, I would stop and let her listen to someone trying to share their talent with the rest of us, but I judged this man on his appearance and kept on walking.  It was at this point when Emery leaned over my shoulder, put out her hand towards him and said “Hello Guy.”

The action immediately made me think of how I judged the man by his appearance and not on who he was.  Perhaps he too was a father and had lost his way somehow, ending up on the streets playing his guitar for change.  Maybe he wasn’t the scary man I had judged him to be, or maybe he was, I don’t know.  Yes, we all need to be cautious of strangers, but I am thankful for the love my daughter showed this man.  I am thankful for the lessons she continues to teach me about love.  My brother always told me that when I finally had kids, I would experience a level of love unlike anything before.  I believe that he is right.

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Please suggest SALTWATER TAFFY to the Sunshine Reader list.  After visiting Water’s Edge Elementary School in Boca Raton Florida, we were flooded with emails asking if Saltwater Taffy is a Sunshine Reader title.

I knew we were an Accelerated Reader title, but I hadn’t heard of the Sunshine Readers List.  In order to get onto the list, we need to be suggested to the committee.  As with everything concerning Saltwater Taffy, all we have to do is raise awareness surrounding the book and the rest takes care of itself.

So, with that…please take literally two seconds and CLICK HERE and write:  Saltwater Taffy by Eric DelaBarre, then check the 4 boxes to let them know we are in North America, the book is publishes after 2010, etc.  You don’t have to leave your email address or phone number or anything…all the want you to do is tell them about a new book.  Tell them about the SAWEET adventure novel Saltwater Taffy and we’ll be your friends for life!

We thank you for your continued support in making Saltwater Taffy an international best selling Children’s book.

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LIT JAM Susanville

2013 Lit Jam Susanville was yet another amazing author visit for Saltwater Taffy.  We sold out every book they hand in the Lit Jam bookstore as well as 2 additional boxes of special orders.

With over 500 kids and parents in attendance for the main event, LIT JAM Susanville was a huge success for Lassen County’s Education Department.  James D. Hall was an amazing leader and an inspiration to the kids in his district.

After 3 different all school assemblies in two days, I have to admit I was beginning to run on empty, but when you have a mic, 500 kids and your book the center of attention, you find the energy to carry on.  I am looking forward to a return to Lassen County as other elementary schools in the area have requested a Saltwater Taffy visit.  Yes, this is a good problem to have on the road to becoming a best selling children’s book.  I have been on the road for over two years, touring with Saltwater Taffy and I have to admit, this recent trip to the LIT JAM Susanville has to be one of my favorite stops of all.  The kids, teachers, and parents were amazing!

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The author visits to schools continue as we were in front of 575 kids in the last two days in Susanville, California.  We’re in town for the Lassen County LIT JAM Festival and have a total of 4 school visits in three days!  Talk about a working author.  Two more assemblies to go then it’s the Lassen County Lit Jam Festival at Diamond View Elementary School.  You can order Saltwater Taffy from your local bookstore, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or right here on Saltwater Taffy’s website.  The cool thing about ordering from the website is that Eric DelaBarre will personally sign your copy of the award-winning adventure novel, Saltwater Taffy.

If your school would like to book Eric DelaBarre for school assemblies, Lit Jams, or anything to do with child literacy, please contact Riley Scott seven “AT” sevenpublishing DOT com.

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