interesting post about first time author

Never has a mute character had so much to say.

There Are No Words, the debut novel for autism advocate Mary Calhoun Brown, will be featured as an "Outstanding Book for Young People with Disabilities 2011" by IBBY (The International Board on Books for Young People).

One copy of the book will be on permanent display in Norway, while a second copy will travel the world. The traveling expedition will launch at the Bologna International Book Festival.

There Are No Words is the story of Jaxon MacKenzie, a twelve-year-old girl who is autistic and non-verbal. One night she falls into an old oil painting in her grandparents' parlor and is transported to 1918 where she can speak for the first time. This unlikely hero then attempts to save her grandfather's best friend from the worst train wreck in U.S. history, and ultimately she must decide whether to stay in the past where she can speak or move on to her own future without words.

Brown said, "It's a story about the true value of friendship and how a little bit of kindness can impact so many lives. My goal with There Are No Words is to demystify hidden disabilities, like autism, for a time like this one-- a time in which a child on the autism spectrum is born every 20 seconds."

"Autism will affect more children this year than cancer or Down's Syndrome or diabetes combined. Peer education, acceptance and friendship are needed for this generation to support understanding and stop the bullying that goes hand-in-hand with those who have developmental disabilities."

Reviewers recommend There Are No Words for "all ages," and the book was recently honored at the Nashville Book Festival.

Brown offers a free curriculum guide to educators who assign There Are No Words to their classrooms. She is available for classroom visits in person and via Skype. Inquiries can be made at www.marycalhounbrown.com.

Books are available from the author's web site, at Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.

IBBY is a non-profit organization that represents an international network of people from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and children together.

IBBY was founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 1953, and today it is composed of seventy National Sections all over the world. IBBY's mission is to promote international understanding through children's books, to give children everywhere the opportunity to have access to books with high literary and artistic standards, to encourage the publication and distribution of quality children's books, to provide support and training for those involved with children and children's literature and to stimulate research and scholarly works in the field of children's literature.

### Please find a selection of reviews below.

Title: There Are No Words* Author: Mary Calhoun Brown Contact Phone for Author: 304-638-4922 304-638-4922 (not for publication) ISBN: 978-09776300-2-8 and 978-097763007-3 Publisher: Lucky Press, LLC Contact Phone for Publisher: 614-309-0048 614-309-0048 (not for publication) # of Pages: 130 Genre: Middle grade/young adult Author's email: email@marycalhounbrown.com Author's blog: http://blog.marycalhounbrown.com Publisher's email: www.luckypress.com Book Price: Softcover $9.95 Hardcover: $22.00 Kindle: $4.95 Books available at Amazon.com using the following link:

http://www.amazon.com/There-Words-Mary-Calhoun-Brown/dp/0977630021/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262623608&sr=8-1 Available at Barnesandnoble.com using the following link: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/There-Are-No-Words/Mary-Calhoun-Brown/e/9780977630028/?itm=1&usri=+There+Are+No+Words + Also available from the author's web site and the publisher's web site:

www.marycalhounbrown.com and www.luckypress.com

*featured as an "OUTSTANDING BOOK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 2011" by the International Board of Books for Young People in Norway. *RUNNER UP AT THE NASHVILLE BOOK FESTIVAL (TEENAGE/YOUNG ADULT CATEGORY)

Video Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNB8EXM49j0

Reviews: "Your book, There Are No Words, is lovely. A fascinating entry in the world of autism through an endearing character going back into time to rescue her grandfather's best friend. In addition to being a great piece of writing, this book is for anyone wanting to learn more about autism from an "inside" view. There Are No Words has my highest recommendation." Stephen Shore, Author Understanding Autism for Dummies Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum 　 The most terrifying future is a future you cannot change. "There Are No Words" tells the story of a mute girl who finds herself with a voice, but sent back decades ago. With the knowledge of a train wreck that will kill one of her grandfather's friends, Jaxon MacKenzie finds herself in a time before said accident. But a twelve year old girl can't do much to stop a government train...can she? "There Are No Words" is a charming story of determination and friendship, highly recommended. Midwest Book Review http://www.midwestbookreview.com

Feathered Quill Book Reviews rating: 5 stars status: Read in January, 2010 There Are No Words is narrated by Jaxon, a 12-year-old girl with autism who lives with her grandparents. Though she shares with the reader that she cannot speak and describes her intense reactions to sound and touch, this is not really a book about autism. It is an adventure whose protagonist happens to be autistic.

Jaxon also proves to be a strong, quick-thinking girl with a crush on a black boy and a friend who, in 1918, likes to wear boys' pants and shoes under her dresses. Author Mary Calhoun Brown defies many stereotypes. Teachers and parents looking for a book with strong female characters or gentle, nurturing men will find them here. The book also promotes awareness of autism without presenting it as a problem to be overcome. In fact the main problem from Jaxon's point of view is that other people do not understand autism and treat her as though she is stupid or, to use her word, unworthy.

We see the world through the eyes of someone who is extremely sensitive to touch and to sounds. Jaxon also pays close attention to details and colors. The descriptions of the world around her-- the feel of the carpet, the sounds of the rain-- are peaceful and poetic. Jaxon, who has much difficulty communicating with others, including her own mother, is still able to paint for us beautiful images of the world as she sees it.

When Jaxon is magically transported through a painting and back in time, she finds that she is able to speak. In fact she seems to have no trouble communicating whatsoever and to be unusually good at intuiting the feelings of others. In Tennessee in 1918 Jaxon's autism is not a problem, but she soon discovers that racism, an issue that she had been unaware of before her time-travel adventure, is a huge one.

Ms. Brown more than once compares racism to the discrimination that Jaxon faces as a person with autism. Brown's presentation of race issues in the United States does not go very deep. Happily the black character, Oliver, has three wonderful white friends who are willing to risk their lives for him. Also, Jaxon seems to believe that racism is all but gone in her modern world. We can forgive, perhaps, her surface-level observations on race, knowing that Jaxon almost never leaves her grandparents' house and interacts with few people outside of her family. Though readers may not feel convinced that the experience of a black person in the south parallels that of an autistic child so neatly, teachers and students will appreciate Brown's message of tolerance toward all others.

The strongest aspect of the story is the unfolding mystery and adventure as Jaxon and her friends race against time, hoping to stop a train wreck and to rescue Oliver. There is real suspense, and Brown describes the action with vivid images, employing the same poetic language that she uses for the pastoral scenes in the beginning of the book. Despite the excitement of a train hurtling toward tragedy in the hours before dawn, the book maintains its peaceful, dreamlike feel throughout.

There Are No Words is a quick read with thoroughly likable characters. The relationships between the characters are sweet while still being very real. Readers will be inspired by the patience of Jaxon's grandparents and the kindness of her friends.

Quill says: A dream-like adventure that reads like poetry while challenging stereotypes.

Rebecca's Reads: "There Are No Words" is a charming and likeable story, and I recommend it to readers of all ages.

This review is submitted by the author (me) with permission from the reviewer (Dr. Ruth C. Sullivan, first President of the Autism Society of America.) I have her permission in writing, dated Sept. 8, 2009. Below please find her words with regard to my book: "This delightful and gentle fantasy is told in first person by Jaxon MacKenzie, a 12-year-old girl with autism. Mute and not in school, she lives with caring and good grandparents. She knows hurt when people outside the home sometimes speak down to her or say unkind things, as though she wasn't (sic) there. "In the house hangs an old oil painting in which a happy girl and boy are holding hands as they dance away from a large tree. One night the girl in the painting reaches out to Jaxon saying, 'come with us. We've been waiting for you.' Helped out to the 'other side of the painting' (as she calls it) by a spritely and happy Sarah, Jaxon begins to talk. She has new adventures, is touched by warm friendships and is moved by their acceptance of someone who is not like them. After some interesting--one dramatically tragic-- experiences-- she finds her way home. "Mary Calhoun Brown has given us an unusual path in getting to the story of autism. Young teenagers, their teachers and parents will be happy to have this one in their library."

Mike Grady, CEO of the Autism Services Center, also reviewed the book. Grady says, "Mary brings her characters to life with an infinite attention to detail and infuses them with depth, humor and selflessness. 'There Are No Words' propelled me into a time and place in which even children were faced with the realities of racism and war."

Reader Views "There Are No Wordsby Mary Calhoun Brown, is a heartwarming tale of trials and triumph, judgment and acceptance; one that challenged my beliefs and brightened my day. It's short, it's sweet, and it's worth far more recognition that it will probably get."

"Jaxon's world is engaging from page one, the author's simple quiet style lending itself well to such a gentle, thoughtful read."

"...Lines feel like an interpretation of love my a misunderstood twelve-year-old, and a frankly more honest one that you can find in most fiction."

"...Love and tolerance are certainly abundant, but unlike most teen books in this niche, it is balanced with sorrow, anger and prejudice in real-life doses, which rescues it from sentimentality and gives it a whole new dimension of excellence." 　

"Your book is amazing- your descriptions are unbelievable! What a talent! Your book is a gift to the world!"

Betts Carpenter-Reed, MD, Ph.D. Medical Director LabCorp Charleston Cytology Laboratory

"Just finished the first chapter.... I am LOVING your book! I love the figurative language.... you are a Reading Teacher's dream come true!"

Melanie Alley, M.A. Fifth Grade Teacher Columbus City Schools Columbus, OH

"I enjoyed reading your book. I loved how you described the forsythia bush. I will never look at a forsythia bush again without thinking about your fabulous description......I miss springtime!!!" Christina Foy Ellis Educator and Leader People to People Student Ambassador Program