I just had a horrible thought that someone could steal this story and all these pictures as their own and publish them – like another Bullseye nightmare! If it’s “out there in space”, is it free for the taking – by anyone?
I have this written as a children’s book in two different age levels – not in detail like I’m writing now but just waiting to find an illustrator.
Tell me what you think before I continue.
Love the story of Susannah – I do remember her! I have a friend that has illustrated 3 children’s books. He is a retired art teacher. I can email you his info if you would be interested!
Do you think he’d be interested in me and my story? Could I see a sample of his work or would that not be professional? Of course I’m not professional, am I? Haha!!!
It is calling out to be a children’s book!
So sad that you have to even consider this. And yes, someone might take it as it is an adorable story.
By the way, I would love to purchase this book as I remember Susannah very well! I love goats!
I think you’re very wise to consider a rip off.
Sad, but true.
Just let us make our own endings.
I think it could be a delightful story. Sad to think someone would steal it but the unethical wouldn’t think twice. Very sad.
Love the story! Yes it should be a children’s book.
Love the story! I think children will love it too!
Oh goodness, Mary! Sad that someone might steal this wonderful story. I will definitely buy multiple copies of your book!
Susan from Illinois
I love the story. Don’t know if someone could steal or not! Love the idea of children’s books!
Oh Susanna! Is so sweet! I can’t wait for more!
me too, waiting for more……
Joy – how are you feeling? Are you recuperating?
Mary, I there a Susannah Part 1, if so,I missed it. Where do I find the story or did you take it off?
Paula in KY
I would buy copies of your children’s book. I think you have reason to be concerned and hope you can get the book published soon. I want to read it!!!
I agree. I’ll buy the book for my grandkids. I have a languishing children’s book. I may have to think about going the submission rounds again. Yours is more of a story. I feel like you could find a publisher for it. I give that idea 2 thumbs up.
Hi Mary ! I just had a thought about your story and pictures – maybe there’s a way to put a watermark on them . A local yarn shop has their name across all their pictures they post . What a sweet story ❤️
You should write the book and publish it. I would buy it in a heartbeat. Please do not put these pictures out there right now.
It’s a horrible thought that that could happen!! What a fantastic idea to have it made into a child’s book! I don’t know what you should do!
Can’t wait to buy the book! Can’t believe nothing is safe.
Oh gosh, that would be awful if someone stole it. Can pictures be copyrighted? I hope so. I would love it as a children’s book. I will buy many😃.
Update on grand cat, Tiptoe. She had an asthma attack! Who knew? The Vet gave her a steroid shot. She is 14, a Maine Coon cat, and a lover. When our daughter was doing online teaching, Tiptoe would often walk across the keyboard so they set up a chair with a special pillow on it or her. Tiptoe’s brother, Simon, had a heart attack under the Christmas tree several years ago. It was awful for the whole family!
I did not know cats could have asthma!! We all learn things here! Glad she’ll be ok.
My Magnus has asthma. I give him inhaler treatments twice a day. He’s doing much better. We found out after a couple of bouts of “pneumonia “ and two trips to the emergency vet when he couldn’t breathe. I thought he would fight the device that holds the inhaler but he just sits there and lets me put it over his mouth and nose.
Yes, Mary, I would look into protecting your story. Sadly, someone may try to claim it as their own. I love your story and will buy it when you get it published.
I think you should find a publisher. It’s a great story. I think you have a lot more stories that would make great kids books.
Hi Mary
Your story of Susannah is precious and should be in print for all ages. Sorry to say, though, someone could take your idea and run with it and just change the name. As previously suggested, Having a watermark or some other copy right notice on your blog would be step in the right direction to protect yourself.
Such a sad world today to think we have to consider theft like this.
Theresa in Illinois
Finish your story for yourself and submit to the US copyright office before sharing any more. Include a disc of your photos. My husband submits his music with written words and a CD, it’s not hard to do and costs a little, not a huge amount, considering you’re protecting your work,
Carol – I have no idea how to do that – first I have to find someone to help me!
Mary, I have a friend and public librarian that recently co-wrote a children’s book with a well-known author from Elkader, Iowa. I went to their book signing event in Elkader last fall. The book title is “How the Big Bad Wolf Got His Comeuppance”. My friend, Lisa Pope wrote it with illustrator Arthur Geisert. I met their publisher from New York at the signing. I will get her email address and send it to you if you would like to ask her questions.
Julie D – would she think I’m too nosey? I would love to pick her brain but please ask her if she’d mind answering some questions first.
What I think is that I need a couple copies of the books! You do have a wonderful way of telling stories. I am sorry you had the issue with one of your patterns and that it is still bothersome.
I think if you publish the books very soon, you would be okay without someone stealing the story. I have a college sorority sister – a fellow Iowan – who is an artist and majored in art. She has illustrated children’s books before. I’m sure she would love to illustrate your lovely story of Susannah.
I would buy several copies of your book – for my grandchildren, for my friend who loves children’s books as much as I do and for myself!
Can’t wait to read the rest of the story!
Mary, just add the universal copyright symbol to your story and it will send the message that it is not to be copied.
I remember your visit to the Old Capitol Quilt Guild, Iowa City. Sweet Little Susannah stayed in her carrier beside one of the “painted” walls. Your post reminds me of raising an orphan lamb. When the weather was too cold for Lambie on the enclosed porch, Mom moved her large box into the kitchen. Mom fed her when I was at school. Sweet Memories.
I’m so sorry that you even have to consider that someone might steal your story, but you are wise to think about protecting it, just in case. I would love to but your book for Laurel—would be such fun to read it to her!
Mary,
I LOVE this sweet story about Oh Susannah!
I would buy a few copies in a heartbeat! Protect your stories and maybe remove your photos, sorry to say but there are a lot of unethically people out there looking for a quick buck. I can hardly wait to see this sweet story in print!
Your story is so precious, Mary. I love it! Protect it however you can and don’t worry about us. Like someone else said, we can make up our own ending OR wait until you have published your book. That would be the best.
Well its a wonderful story, but I maybe would hold off. Most people say you can’t live your life being afraid of being copied or stolen, but coming from one who has had sewing patterns stolen I would hold off. I am writing childrens stories myself and choose not to share until I am ready. Best of luck either way, but I truly enjoyed part 1!!!
Definitely publish a children’s book. Such a sweet true story!
I think you should stop with your story now. Bonnie Hunter puts her name on every picture that she takes for her blog. You should probably look into that for the pictures you post. There is no doubt in my mind that someone will steal your story. Sad but true. Everyone will have to wait for your books to hear the rest of the story.
I agree, Gloria. Please put your name on each picture. I have a friend who’s a photographer, and that is what she does for every picture. Perhaps Kayla can help you with this, if you don’t have this feature on your phone. Personally, I would stop telling the story until you can see the correct way to proceed… even though I want to know what happens next. ( a good sign you have a good story)
That would be a wonderful children’s book! I hope you find an illustrator soon.
i hate to say this (because I’m anxious for Part 2) but better safe than sorry. I would buy a few copies, for my grand nephews and for me!!!!!
I’m 73, get to work on that book! I don’t want to die fore I hear the ending!
This would make a wonderful children’s book!
Perhaps the publisher of the many books you and Connie have written would answer your question. This would be a wonderful book! We’d all buy it!
Excellent idea….I should have thought of it! Mary, I’m sure your friends at Martingale wouldn’t mind advising you.
That’s one of the sweetest stories I’ve ever heard. That was a lucky little goat. She looks like a stuff animal. So small and her little ears different color from her body.
Love the story.
I would be one of the first in line to buy “Oh Susannah” children’s books.
While I was reading part one I had the thought it would be the perfect children’s story. I would check with your legal people for some good advice.
Its such a wonderful story. It should be a book, especially one for children with illustrations and maybe a quilt pattern at the end. You should safeguard the story for publication for sure.
Yes the book would be great and obviously sell well but the reality is that it will take a lot of time and energy. I know you are like the energizer bunny and know it will be a large (and lovely) project. Good luck.
Mary/Hazel 11 – rats 0. Great game.
Definitely a danger of it being stolen. Can you unpost the last post. Sometimes I get a 404 error when something is no longer available
I’d hold off telling us. I’m so anxious to hear the story, but you know what happened to your pattern. What a day state of affairs.
Mary, this has the makings of a PERFECT children’s story. I also want to gently remind you as a woman of faith that the Lord exhorts us to live by that faith and to not live in fear – of anything. He is in control. Thieves will get their due recompense in the end. I love, love, love your blog and look forward to reading it every time it’s in my inbox!!
Even tho I have heard it, I loved hearing about Susannah again. It should absolutely be a book!
Mary, in today’s world it’s too easy for people to steal your intellectual property. I wouldn’t post anything online that you don’t want stolen. It would absolutely be tragic if someone stole your book before you published it.
Good point! I would write the book and sell it. I would love an autographed copy!
I certainly think you should publish the 2 children’s books. It’s a wonderful story that is book worthy and you are a wonderful storyteller. While I along with others would love to hear the rest of the story, there is a worry that the unethical might plagiarize it. That is something you have to decide for yourself and we will respect your wishes. I do think putting your name on each photo (like Bonnie Hunter) is a great idea. It would be a good deterrent, for the afore mentioned unethical’s. I also think checking into getting this story, and perhaps some of your others, published is a great idea. These are stories that everyone enjoys. Be calm, stay warm and thanks.
Absolutely do it! So sweet.
I love this story. Please keep writing!
Madelyn from TX
Liam would love Susannah’s journey.
Please publish it and you have already presold a bunch of copies!
Have you considered using a watermark on all your photos? Kayla(?) could probably help you with that.
Please publish it kids would love it as much we adults do. Thanks, Marie
Check out “Jeri Landers of Hopalong Hollow” on utube. She is a book illustrator and gardener. She might be a source of information. She has a great channel! She has tons of collections you would love.
Becky – thank you! I did love to see her collections. I’d be too nervous to do a video but I enjoyed several of hers very much.
Yes, you must protect yourself and your memory/the story of Susanna. Pursue the book deal. Sadly, there are too many people out there just waiting to take advantage.
I love the story of Susannah,such a cute little goat . I can barely imagine her fitting in a cement block .
I’m working on a bullseye quilt , my second one first is still just a top .Need to finish it .plan on sending pic’s when I do .
Love reading your stories.
Jody
It would make a great book!
Love it !!!
Love it!!!
Mary, Protect the story. Do the book. I don’t have any grand babies but would buy the book so I could on the journey with Susanna. Carolyn b Shenandoah Valley VA
I’ll wait for the book, what a wonderful story. Hope you find an artist, this is going to be a wonderful adventure for you. Wait, don’t tell us more because I WANT the book to be yours and only yours!
Mary, this would be a wonderful children’s book. I so hope you’ll find an illustrator.
This is a great story. I’d do what you have to do so no one steals it. I never thought of that happening, yet you’ve lived it with your pattern! I can’t wait to hear more, but I can certainly understand if you need to protect the story!
I love part 1 but to be on the safe side I wouldn’t send out the rest of the story. To risky because some people will do anything. Very sad.
Its a wonderful story and you are right to want to protect the copyright. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the story or better still be able to buy the book. Keep up the good work. Ros
Thank you for telling the Susannah story. I had forgot that she was only 2 pounds. I remember coming to camp and she would be in the quilt shop, just like the cats. I took many pictures of Susannah over the years.
Thank you for sharing Susannah’s story. I’m sorry you have to worry about someone stealing it. I think it would make a good Children’s book. Take care!
Sounds great and I want a copy to be sure – but then she’s my grand goat 🙂
Janet – haha! Yes, of course she is!
Mary – what a sweet story – of course you should publish it! I’m sure some kind of troll could steal the story – there’s always someone up to no good. So save the story for the book!
Mary….anything you put on the blog that you want to keep the rights to, you need to add a statement that says something like, “All photographs and written content are the sole property of Mary Etherington and Connie Tesene”. It might be a good idea to have your internet guru make you a paragraph that you can automatically attach to every blog post. I don’t know how to do that but I bet she does!
Oh what a cute little goat! I’ve been away and didn’t get to read Part 1 until today. Understand completely if you decide not to write Part 2 here. We can wait for the book! I like Sue in Marion, IN’s suggestion of a paragraph that can be attached to every blog post. Or it maybe can be part of your contact information on the side bar? Jan in MA
Love this story so far. You need to contact Sara Jo through Instagram. Her page is Bryartonfarm. Your can see her beautiful illustrations she does using water colors. She has done several children books. She might be too busy, but it would be worth asking her.
What a lovely real story – yes please keep writing as I would love to read the story as well.
And YES get Kayla to fix your writing on the blog so it cannot be taken by others..
Can’t wait for more…