I really owe her so much. I wrote the story, and convinced a talented teaching colleague to illustrate it, based solely on it's potential and appeal to her. I convinced a publisher to take it on, and now it has been released. I am already working on a marketing plan, of which this was a small part. Now that the economy has tanked and my wife has insisted we tighten our belts, this is the major part of the plan. I believe this book has the ability, illustration, and content to be a widespread hit.
The thing about all of this is there would be no story without someone inspiring me to write it. I remember how I would say half-joking "whenever something happens and I ask you guys who did it, you always say, not me. Not Me is the one who does everything bad around here". I'll call her Molly, she is the student who would say, "maybe you should write a story about it, it would be good".
I think I did write a good story. I am knocked out by the illustrations, I can't draw but I sure can appreciate when someone draws twenty four outstanding works of art, based on what I wrote. What a rush, when I saw these visual representations of my ideas. All of this is because some clever child saw a childrens' book writer in me. I didn't see it in myself yet. In sports, outstanding players get the game ball. She gets the first book I ever sign.
It has been years since that time I got a little germ of an idea, and now, where I am like a proud parent of a newly born children's book. It will delight children and adults alike with it's whimsical, yet accurate portrayal of a class of kids who will not take ownership for any of their behavior. The illustrations by Jennifer Savillo are top notch and make you smile, because they are so dead-on, and funny to look at. The. This would make a fine Christmas gift for kids in grades 3-6.
It would be popular long after the snow has melted, and adults will get a continuing kick out of it too.

Not Me by Stanley Williams http://www.publishamerica.com/http://stanwilliams01.googlepages.com/