I struggled about when to make the amazon paperback available... I was torn because I want my BackerKit backers to get their packages before everyone else BUT...I also want ALL children + families to be able to easily get a copy (esp outside of the US). As many of you know, when up against a diagnosis, especially a new diagnosis, you are grabbing at resources - looking for anything and everything that can help. I was shocked while doing research on other titles about diabetes to find that there are ZERO picture books that have been traditionally published.

November is Diabetes Awareness month and my hope is that putting My Body Beeps! into the world will help to raise awareness of Diabetes but more true to my heart, is to give children with diabetes a book that is real, a story that they can truly see themselves in, that shows the everyday frustrations but also the joy that exists in living a full life with diabetes.

Diabetes Awareness Month takes place in November in honor of the Nov. 14 birthday of Dr. Frederick Banting, who discovered insulin in 1921. November 14th is also World Diabetes Day.

For those that are directly impacted by this condition, we know how important it is to raise awareness but also how important it is to support everyone affected by it, not just on a particular day or month but every day of the year, because there is no break for those affected by it.

Here is the Amazon Link. The ebook will be free from Nov 1-3 and on Nov 14th. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKVNP82Z If you download the free ebook, the biggest thing you can do to support this book reaching families that need it is by leaving a review on Amazon + Goodreads.

If you are an international backer and purchased the book, I will be sending you a copy of My Body Beeps! in the next week via Amazon. Anything that can fit in a stamped envelope will be coming later once I am ready for overall fulfillment. *If you purchased a doll as well, then I will be waiting until I have the offset printed copies and the dolls ready to send you a package. This is how I am able to do international shipping of the book for only $5 - shipping a book through the mail internationally is $25+, if you would prefer the offset version, I can let you know the shipping cost. *If you are a US backer and do not want to wait for the offset print run - which will take 2-3 months, send me a message and I can send you your copy through Amazon as well.*

https://go.fliplink.me/view/body-beeps-preview

I have also sent out the Ebook file as a Digital Download in Backerkit. Thank you all for your support!!!

The files have now been sent to the printer and I will receive samples in just a couple of weeks - EEK!

A lot of people that supported my project may have never supported a crowdfunding campaign before. What's really cool about supporting a project from the beginning is that you get to see all the behind the scenes of how it all comes together and get all the extras. I just ordered magnets for the fridge and will be including them as a FREE gift in supporters packages that indicate being connected to diabetes in their surveys. I hope this helps with getting ready in the mornings!

I have also started the editorial review process. This is where you send the book out to reputable book reviewers for an unbiased review that can then help educate readers on If a book may be a good purchase for them. Editorial reviews typically cost money but are important and why having support through a crowdfunding campaign is really helpful with all of the different pieces that come up with creating a book. I applied to Kirkus ($399), Readers Favorite ($0), Reedsy ($50), and Indies Today ($119) which includes entry into their awards program. I am also going to send My Body Beeps! to Midwest Book Review and the School Library Journal.

I've been messaging back and forth with the doll designer and we are ordering the following:

35 Katie Dolls with both CGM + Pump (14 of these are accounted for already)
10 Josh Dolls with a CGM (1 of these is accounted for already)
1 custom doll for Lila our raffle winner (I sent pictures of her to the artist and Lila got to choose an outfit from a selection - she choose such fun PJs for her custom doll)

If you would like to have a Katie or Josh doll for your family - NOW is the time to order/add it on during your survey. I cannot promise that I will order these again as there are minimums and it is expensive to have custom dolls created. Each doll is created by hand in linen and are amazing quality with such attention to detail.