Category: Open

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One summer we encountered an access problem that was resolved through ingenuity not confrontation. We were sleeping in a friend’s guesthouse when a persistent, high-pitched noise woke us. We finally identified the smoke detector on the ceiling as the culprit. It was time to change the battery! There was no escaping the noise and it would have been an assault on our host’s hospitality to call him at one o’clock in the morning. We had to solve this problem on our own.

It was an involved process. We dragged the dining room table to the bedroom door, tilted it on end and maneuvered it through the doorway without gauging a hole in the wall. We set the table back on its legs and lifted a chair onto the table. Robert climbed onto the table and then onto the chair. I held the chair while Robert disconnected the battery. Sleep was now possible.

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Robert was excited when his niece asked if her cat, Kendall, could live with us. All he had to do was convince me. It’s not that I dislike cats so much as they make me sneeze and I don’t like getting pawed or scratched. I agreed for Kendall to move in on two conditions: (1) Robert take full responsibility for all Kendall’s needs; and (2) the bedroom would be off-limits.

                          Kendall had everything going for him: personality, gorgeous fur, amazing eyes, and a contortionist’s ability to squeeze into unlikely places. There was one big problem—Kendall refused to use the litter box. Robert consulted cat lovers and tried three different box designs and litter types. However, after three weeks of Kendall toileting anywhere but in the litter box, Robert couldn’t take it anymore. He found him a home with a devoted lover of Himalayan Persian cats.

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Chocolates for a Little People of America fundraiser were being delivered to our address. But the truck driver could not navigate our community without churning up lawns and breaking sprinkler heads. So Robert met the driver outside the gate. He was amazed to see a huge semi-truck and trailer and dumbfounded when the driver opened the back door. Our few boxes of chocolate were the only cargo!

And for the whole story, read the second book in my dwarfism memoir trilogy, “PASS ME YOUR SHOES: A Couple with Dwarfism Navigates Life’s Detours with Love and Faith,” https://angelamuirvanetten.com/pass-me-your-shoes/.

My motivation for writing this blog is to be a voice for people with dwarfism and other disabilities, guided by faith and justice. I have ventured to do this by incorporating excerpts from my dwarfism memoir trilogy—Dwarfs Don’t Live in Doll Houses, Pass Me Your Shoes, and Always An Advocate—and writing original material related to calendar events, my activities, and issues crying out for attention.

Readers can subscribe to the blog or see links to posts on social media. It’s a great boost when posts are shared in a reader’s own network. Totally unexpected was the thrill of Feedspot selecting my blog as one of the Top 100 Disability Blogs on the web! As a result, a link to one of my posts is regularly featured in a Feedspot email.

It’s hard to predict how well a post will be received. Sometimes I’m surprised when a post either garners no response or racks up numerous comments. I’ve concluded that people relate best to posts with personal stories. This is apparent from three posts with the most comments:

• First: First Time (July 27, 2020).
• Second: Crashing Into My 70^th birthday (August 28, 2023).
• Tied for third:
  • Finding Hugo (September 26, 2022).
  • Celebrate People Blessed with Down Syndrome (March 22, 2021).

Writing a weekly post has been challenging for many reasons, but I’ll only mention two. On the health front Robert and I both had a brush with death and stint in ICU. Robert for end stage renal disease requiring dialysis three times a week, and me for COVID-19 that put me into a coma. We have also weathered multiple surgeries. For me it was about the eyes—cataracts, laser, and vitrectomy leaving me totally blind in my left eye; for Robert it was about his bladder. Physical therapists have worked with Robert at home off and on to strengthen his legs to stop falling and regain mobility. Despite best efforts, Robert no longer drives and I don’t drive at night. I have also picked up the caregiver role for his personal and medical needs.

The second time guzzler relates to publication of my dwarfism memoir trilogy. Writing was the easy part, but connecting with readers involves book launches, book reviews, media interviews, presentations, and networking—all necessary but time consuming tasks.

I mention all this as background to my decision to reduce the frequency of future posts from weekly to the first and third Mondays. This will ease scheduling pressure and increase post quality.

Image credit: Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay

You can read past posts or subscribe to future posts on Angela’s blog at https://angelamuirvanetten.com/blog/.

Road trips are a great opportunity to listen to audiobooks. In 1996, I fondly remember a family drive when we took turns reading out loud from Dr. John Gray’s print book, “Men are From Mars, Women are from Venus.” We never actually finished the book as the two couples in the car kept interrupting whoever was reading to add their commentary. Two years later, I could have avoided getting car sick while reading and listened to Dr. Gray himself narrate an audiobook edition.

It’s no surprise that audiobooks have their own appreciation month. The audiobook industry is worth more than two billion dollars and is expected to hit 35 billion dollars by 2030! June was chosen as the celebration month as it coincides with the beginning of summer, vacations, and reading programs.

Despite being costly to produce—an average of $300 to $400 per finished hour of production—audiobooks remain affordable. About 40% of all audiobooks are consumed through public libraries that offer free downloads. And audiobook apps like Speechify, Audible, Audiobooks, and Kindle typically offer free membership for 30 days and credits which can be exchanged for a title of your choice.

So are you ready to finish more books by listening to an audiobook this summer? May I humbly suggest that you listen to the audiobook I wrote and narrated: “Always an Advocate: Champions of Change for People with Dwarfism and Disabilities.” It’s available on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. But first listen to a retail sample of me reading an excerpt from Chapter 14, “Let Me Ride” discussing my experience at a Saul Alinsky training advocating against inaccessible public bus transportation.

https://bit.ly/3KuvRpj

And then read Marsha’s May 2022 audiobook review:

“Angela Muir Van Etten’s audiobook is a real eye opener. You get to know Angela through her words and, even better, to enjoy her distinctive New Zealand accent as she reads her story. Angela details her struggles inside and outside the disabled community and doesn’t whitewash the challenges she and other Little People face as individuals and as a group as they coalesce to bring about societal changes and remove architectural barriers that most of us never even see. . . I know this is the last book in a trilogy but it can’t be the last one she writes! Keep on keeping on Angela!”

To dig deeper, go to:

• “Ask the Author About ‘Always an Advocate.’” Angela Muir Van Etten blog post, August 2, 2021. https://angelamuirvanetten.com/ask-the-author-about-always-an-advocate/
• “Inclusion via Audiobooks.” Angela Muir Van Etten blog post, March 14, 2022. https://angelamuirvanetten.com/inclusion-via-audiobooks/
• Amy Watson. “Number of audiobooks published in the U.S. 2007-2021.”June 12, 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/261185/number-of-audiobooks-published-in-the-us/
• Shelby G. “Audiobook Appreciation Month.” Colorado Access. 2024. https://www.coaccess.com/blog/audiobookmonth/

• Another three generation get together occurred in Stuart when my New Zealand (NZ) girlfriend of almost 60 years visited for the first time with her daughter and granddaughter.
• More friend connections were made at Robert’s high school reunion and when hosting our annual Little People of America (LPA) Thanksgiving/Christmas gathering.

UNDERTAKING writing projects continued with uploading weekly blog posts; contributing a chapter to an anthology called “Dwarfism Arts and Advocacy: Creating Our Own Positive Identity;” and an LPA regional workshop on breaking down dwarfism stereotypes.

Several UNEXPECTED deaths of people from LPA, church, and family hit hard. The most shocking was the sudden loss of Ray Gedge. Ray dates back to high school days and became family when he married my aunt about 48 years ago. He also served as Robert’s groomsman in our NZ wedding in 1981. His passing is a solemn reminder that we have entered the last lap of our lives on this planet.

URGENT visits to emergency rooms involved both Robert and myself. A couple related to falls, but two were more serious. The day after testing positive for COVID, I was hospitalized for two days in a Sydney ICU after being brought back from the brink of death. A couple of months later, Robert was hospitalized for eight days as ICU staff in Stuart wrestled him back from multiple infections and stroke level blood pressure readings.

UNCOOPERATIVE is the best word for Robert’s attitude towards nebulizer treatments and exercise between physical therapy sessions. He agrees to do it, but his mastery of procrastination makes for many days without either one.

UNDERSTANDING how to motivate Robert remains elusive.

An UNCOMFORTABLE transition of Robert’s household maintenance chores involved me working with contractors to service, repair or replace pool and lawn sprinkler pumps, washing machine, air conditioner, waste disposal, and outdoor pressure washing.

An UNUSUAL wedding anniversary celebration involved two chocolate chip muffins picked up on my way home from having my blood drawn.

UPLIFTING events and routine activities preserved my sanity as a newbie caregiver. I enjoyed meals and fellowship at church meetings. Worship, Bible reading and study for teaching Sunday School underpinned my perseverance and prayer for patience.

USE of my gifts as church clerk and a board member for a charter school for autism contribute to being salt and light in the world.

The UNPREDICTABILITY of the future stops me from making specific New Year goals. I’m content to let the Lord direct my steps in accord with Proverbs 16:9.

You may also want to read:

• Angela Muir Van Etten. “PHYSICAL THERAPY: Move and Improve.” Blog post. September 18, 2023. https://angelamuirvanetten.com/physical-therapy-move-and-improve/
• Angela Muir Van Etten. “Crashing Into My 70^th Birthday.” Blog post. August 28, 2023. https://angelamuirvanetten.com/crashing-into-my-70th-birthday/
• Angela Muir Van Etten. “Adapting to Changes in Climate and Age.” Blog post. August 21, 2023. https://angelamuirvanetten.com/adapting-to-changes-in-climate-and-age-2/

For more of my writings, go to https://angelamuirvanetten.com where you can subscribe to my weekly blog and find retail links to my dwarfism memoir trilogy.

writing is still an important ingredient for success, it doesn’t go very far without being paired with excellent marketing. And therein lies the rub. Publishers have shifted most book marketing to authors.

In order to sell my dwarfism memoir trilogy, I needed to be proficient in both writing and marketing. For me, it was a case of on-the-job training. I immersed myself in articles and webinars on publishing and greatly benefited from coaching by Ava Pennington, an author and teacher at writers’ conferences and faith-based and general market events.

As a result, my marketing strategy included: creating book launch teams; developing an author website—“a voice for people with dwarfism & disability,” https://angelamuirvanetten.com; writing a weekly blog post; being active on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest; presenting workshops at LPA national and district conferences; and contributing articles and interviews to magazines and websites.

I also prepared media kits for each book with the goal of attracting podcast, radio or TV interviews; all of which involve talking. The listing of disability focused podcasts on which I have been featured are on my website at https://angelamuirvanetten.com/media/ and listed below:

• Coach Ang and Samyuktha. “Author Spotlight: A Champion for Change,” Season 3, Episode 2. A Little Perspective. October 29, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g69a1m3ktEc
• “How to Advocate for People with Disability and Dwarfism,” Season 4, Episode 27. Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast – November 10, 2022.
• Betsy Fasbinder. “Angela Muir Van Etten: Always an Advocate.” The Morning Glory Project Podcast – January 19, 2022.
• “Always an Advocate,” Episode 32. Florida Disability Rights, You First Podcast – November 18, 2021.
• “Marriage Story: A Couple with Dwarfism Navigates Life’s Detours with Love and Faith,” Season 2, Episode 37. Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast – October 22, 2020.
• “A Voice for People with Dwarfism and Disability,” Season 2, Episode 36. Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast – October 15, 2020.

Please contact me at angela@angelamuirvanetten.com if you’d like to schedule an interview, speaking engagement, or guest blog post.

You may also want to read:

• Angela Muir Van Etten. “Tips for Achieving Positive Media Coverage.” Blog post, February 27, 2023. https://angelamuirvanetten.com/tips-for-achieving-positive-media-coverage/
• “Always an Advocate” Book Media Kit. October 8, 2021. https://angelamuirvanetten.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Media-Kit-Always-an-Advocate.pdf
• “Pass Me Your Shoes: An Interview With Angela Muir Van Etten.” Hello, Little Lady written interview – October 22, 2020.
• “Pass Me Your Shoes” Book Media Kit. October 8, 2020.  https://angelamuirvanetten.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Pass-Me-Your-Shoes-Media-Kit.pdf
• Shirley Marlow. “In No Small Feat, She Finds True Stature as a Writer.” Los Angeles Times. July 4, 1989. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-04-mn-3313-story.html.
• Abby Karp, “Little People’s Biggest Problem: Small Minds.” The Baltimore Sun. July 3, 1989. Newspapers.com archive.

March. The release of “Always an Advocate” Audiobook generated favorable reviews by listeners with vision impairments. In contrast, John Stossel’s “Give Me a Break” ABC TV segment on dwarf tossing 20 years earlier earned my negative review.

April. Our LPA trip to Lion Country Safari in Palm Beach, Florida was reminiscent of our 1984 trip to an African Lion Safari in Canada minus the need for directions from a farmer who laughed at the idea of lions roaming the landscape.

May. A garage worker totaled my car when his foot got caught on the accelerator! Twenty-two years earlier, a truck driver totaled Robert’s van when the thin metal edge of the flatbed sliced open the passenger’s side like a can.

June. My blog post, “Give Blood, Give Life,” highlighted the difficult blood draw process for many little people and need for donated blood during elective surgeries. Many years earlier, Robert was disqualified from a Hepatitis C research study because staff were unable to draw his blood.

July. Although I chaffed at the $100 surcharge it cost to ride in an accessible taxi with my scooter from the Spokane, Washington airport to the LPA conference hotel, this was better than being denied taxi service at the Denver LPA conference five years earlier.

August. An involved debridement appointment with my dental hygienist was a solemn reminder of the day nine years earlier when I needed a thorough debridement and teeth cleaning before the periodontist would write a letter clearing me for aortic valve replacement surgery.

September. After 18 weeks without wheels, we bought a 2020 Toyota Sienna Wheelchair Accessible Van equipped with pedal extensions, a power adjustable height driver seat, and steering wheel extension. It was a far cry from the Austin Mini car my parents gave me on my 18th birthday.

October. The “Ten Steps to Effective Advocacy” workshop I presented at the Florida LPA regional in Gainesville, Florida reminded me of the many advocacy workshops I presented as far back as 1986 to people with dwarfism and disabilities, parents of special education students, and disability professionals.

November. My interview on the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast to discuss advocacy to change discrimination against people with dwarfism and other disabilities was a perfect follow-up to the two 2020 podcasts the ministry recorded after publication of “Pass Me Your Shoes.”

December. On December 29, 1999 a newspaper called the dwarf tossing atrocity one of the ten worst inventions of the millennium. My June 27^th blog post, “Florida Bans Dwarf Tossing in Bars,” explains why the June 28, 1989 law was needed. For more book, blog, and media information, go to my website at https://angelamuirvanetten.com

In our 40 years of marriage we have racked up all of these changes, including relocations from Virginia to Maryland to Ohio to New York to Florida. As a result, we have lost touch with many people we care about.

But a phone call can change all that. Hearing the voice of a friend or family member is the next best thing to being together. We can close the gap of distance by sharing our news, laughter or tears, and concern for one another. Mood can be detected. Miscommunications can be straightened out.

This year, Ding-a-Ling Day rang a loud bell with me . I had deep-seated regret for being so disconnected from a friend in Little People of America (LPA) that I didn’t even know she was in a losing battle with cancer until she was in Hospice care! I had taken the relationship for granted and presumed we would catch up the next time I saw her at an LPA conference. If only I had picked up the phone now and then.

Even though December 12^th has passed this year, it’s never too late to call someone. And we don’t need to limit ourselves to calling once a year. Why not pick up the phone whenever we’re thinking of someone? Call someone today. As the saying goes, “yesterday is gone, today is almost over, and tomorrow isn’t promised.”

Be a ding-a-ling in the life of someone you care about.

#National Ding-a-Ling-Day

BOOK NEWS: The first book in my dwarfism trilogy, “Dwarfs Don’t Live in Doll Houses,” is now available as an e-book on Kindle. Read the portion of my memoir from birth through my twenties. See my development in family, school, work, and public life. Download it on Amazon.com.

Robert saw a future in buying the property because it was close to downtown Rochester and Kodak’s world headquarters. The purchase was only possible because God graciously answered our prayers by providing as follows:

• The Small Business Administration (SBA) loan program was funded the year of Robert’s application to buy a commercial building.
• Robert was the first Rochester business owner in two years to qualify for the SBA loan for people with disabilities.
• The SBA commercial loan interest rate was 3% compared to bank rates of 16% and the SBA mortgage term was 20 years compared to bank terms of 10-15 years.
• Robert was approved at an affordable price for the life insurance policy required by the SBA; this had been a concern due to Robert’s dwarfism and lack of data on life expectancy for those with his type of dwarfism, Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia.
• Renovation funds were part of the SBA loan and matched by a City of Rochester community-development grant allowing for much needed building improvements.
• The city cleaned up neighborhood debris, demolished a derelict building, and added a fence behind the property.

All was well until I learned that the SBA loan required me to sign as guarantor and use our home as collateral. I was distraught. If the business failed, my salary could not cover two mortgages and we could lose both the business and our house. For me it was a deal breaker. For Robert, not to do so was a marriage breaker. Amidst my tears and protest, Robert promised me that if the business could not pay, he would get another job to pay the loan. And so, I signed the loan papers with extreme reluctance.

The intent of moving the business was not only for Adaptive Living to grow and be physically more accessible to clients, but also for Robert to be more accessible to me.

So did the business move reduce our stress as planned? Find out by reading the rest of the story in “Pass Me Your Shoes,” chapter 12, Seeing the Light of Day, pages 83-84.

BARGAIN HUNTER’S ALERT: the “Pass Me Your Shoes paperback is discounted below the cost of printing and a Kindle edition is now available.

My first draft of this post included a listing and brief description of LP books dating back to 1988. However, there are just too many to list! Altogether I counted 18 authors with dwarfism who have written a memoir. I was surprised to discover I only knew about half of them. So stay tuned for a resource update on my website, angelamuirvanetten.

Although the memoirs all share the challenges we face as little people, the stories are as diverse as the people telling them. The authors are male or female; single, married, divorced, or widowed; different dwarfism types; with and without children; black or white; gay or straight, spiritual or not. They are employed or self-employed as coaches, dancers, doctors, entertainers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, leaders, musicians, professional wrestlers, public speakers, or teachers.

Many people tell me they want to write a book. And that’s great for the readers who are always looking for another great read. But before you venture into this world, be sure you’re ready for the ride. It’s not just a matter of sitting down at the computer for a few weeks and uploading a manuscript. Nope, before the writing comes the planning and after the writing there is editing, more editing, and proof reading. Then comes the decisions whether to seek an agent, publish traditionally or independently, or both.

It used to be that if you landed a publisher your work was done and your future as an author was bright. Not so anymore. Let me introduce you to a new “m” word. Marketing. Although not an offensive word, for those who love to write, marketing can cause great consternation. Both Indie and traditionally published authors must market their books. For example, an active social media presence on multiple platforms is essential. This is time consuming, self-promotion can be uncomfortable, and the shifting sands of social media make marketing outcomes unpredictable.

None of this is said to discourage you. If you want to write a book, “go for it.” But know what you’re in for. Start building your social media platforms now. Sign up for webinars to learn about the trade. And write, write, write. Authors are needed to educate, encourage, and entertain.

For more information on my dwarfism trilogy, blog, media, resources, and photos, go to my website at https://angelamuirvanetten.com.

As a book launch team member, share the answers found in the third book of my trilogy and show how positive changes are possible in our chaotic world.

Apply now and through April 29, the day wrecking cranes began tearing down the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate in 1990. Be active in the disability movement that continues to break down environmental, attitudinal and system barriers.

Consider the benefits of being a team member:

• Receive a complimentary autographed copy of Always An Advocate.
• Exclusive, private, and direct communication with me as the Author and other team members.
• FUN! Contests with prizes reserved for book launch team members!

Never been on a book launch team before? No worries. If you agree to do the following, you can do it:

• Subscribe to my weekly blog (if not already a subscriber).
• Accept Angela’s invitation to join the book launch team’s secret FaceBook group.
• Agree to visit the team’s group at least once a week to support book marketing.
• Read a pdf copy of the book prior to the release date. 
• Post a favorable book review on amazon.com when requested by Angela at the beginning of the book launch month. (If you can’t recommend it to others, no hard feelings, but please agree not to post a negative review.)
• Share book news on your social media platforms; consider posting a selfie reading the book.
•  Share your enthusiasm for the book with your LPA chapter, district and any disability organizations that you belong to.

Other book launch team contributions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Recommend Always An Advocate to family, friends, coworkers and anyone else who will listen.
• Post a favorable online book review on retail outlets where books are sold, such as Barnes and Noble and Books A Million.
• Post a favorable book review on Goodreads.
• If you have a blog, post a book review or interview with Angela.
• Ask your local library to order copies of Always An Advocate.
• Gift a copy to family and friends.
• If you belong to a book club, suggest they read Always An Advocate.
• Write and submit a book review for your local paper.
• Anything else the team recommends.

To apply for membership on this book launch team, please text me at 772-834-3951 or private message me on FaceBook with your email address and I’ll send you the link to my website where you’ll find the simple, one page application form. Remember to submit your application on or before April 29^th.