December 11, 2008

My fancy pants are made of paper

Available in trade paperback January 6, 2009



St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN: 978-0-312-53880-4
ISBN-10: 0-312-53880-4
288 pages
$14.95

Author appearances:
Thursday, January 8, 2009 - 7:30 pm
Legacy Books, 7300 Dallas Parkway, Plano TX 75024
972-398-9888     |     info@legacybooksonline.com

Friday, February 13, 2009 - 7:00 pm
Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, CA 94925
415-927-0960     |     800-999-7909

When Schuyler Rummel-Hudson was eighteen months old, a question from her pediatrician about her lack of speech set in motion a journey that continues today. When she was diagnosed with bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria (an extremely rare neurological disorder), her parents were given a name for the monster that had been stalking them from doctor to doctor, and from despair to hope and back again.

Once they knew why Schuyler couldn’t speak, they needed to determine how to help her learn. They took on educators and society to give their beautiful daughter a voice, and in the process learned a thing or two about fearlessness, tenacity, and joy.

More than a memoir of a parent dealing with his child’s disability, Schuyler’s Monster is a tale of a little girl who silently teaches a man filled with self-doubt how to be the father she needs.



Praise for Schuyler’s Monster

“A gripping explication, shot through with equal parts horror and hope, of how parenthood can turn ordinary people into passionate advocates.” - Neal Pollack, author of Alternadad

“Robert Rummel-Hudson is brave enough to reveal the damage the discovery of his child's condition did to his marriage and to his own sense of self. He manages to repair some of the damage through close involvement with Schuyler and vigorous campaigning on her behalf. His memoir is honest, often painful and deeply personal.” - Charlotte Moore, author of George & Sam

“The book is engaging and honest - I'm sure it will help many parents who are struggling to find the most loving way to help their children who have ‘issues.’” - Dana Buchman, designer, author of A Special Education: One Family's Journey Through the Maze of Learning Disabilities

“Rummel-Hudson’s memoir offers a moving account of his and wife Julie’s unrelenting efforts to give their buoyant little girl a way to communicate.” – People magazine

“Relating the battle for his exceptional daughter with nimble wit, ardor and considerable descriptive ability, Rummel-Hudson has evolved from blogger to author.” – Kirkus

“…A study not only in Schuyler’s vivacious and resilient personality, but also in the redeeming power of understanding…” – Publishers Weekly

“This memoir, full of fear and rage and disappointment and acceptance and advocacy and ferocious love, offers plenty of touchstones for parents who have dealt with diagnoses that are infuriatingly wrong or frighteningly right….” – Terri Mauro, author of The Everything Parent’s Guide to Sensory Integration Disorder

“Rummel-Hudson chronicles, with disarming frankness, the experience of parenting a child no one knows how to help.” – Brain, Child

“…This story will both compel and inspire readers on their own self-journey.” – Texas Family magazine

“We all play the hand that we are dealt in life. Knowing that there are many people like Robert, Julie and Schuyler who play their difficult hand with grit, tenacity and love makes this world a much better place in which to live.” – The Citizen, Auburn, New York



The Author

Robert Rummel-Hudson has been writing online since 1995. During that time, his work has been recognized by the Diarist Awards and has been featured in the Austin Chronicle, the Irish Times, the New Haven Register, the Dallas Morning News, Wondertime Magazine and Good Housekeeping, as well as on American Public Radio’s “Weekend America.”

Robert and his family currently live in Plano, Texas, where Schuyler attends a special class for children who use Augmentative Alternative Communication devices. Much of her days are now spent in mainstream classes with neurotypical children her age.

Read more at www.schuylersmonster.com.

9 comments:

Julia O'C said...

Congratulations! That's very cool.

Unknown said...

You are going to be near me! I am going to try my darndest to get up there to see you. Yay!

Anonymous said...

And now my stupid brother-in-law is going to be in town that same weekend! Why, oh why, is everything happening that same weekend. Dance performance AND dance competition, visiting family and book signing. Booooo.

Ellen Seidman said...

So cool. Eagerly awaiting news about Schuyler.

Anonymous said...

Excellent news! Now your book is portable!

(By the way, the link at the bottom of your post is broken, it goes to a page not found---I think they left out "blog" from the end.)

Robert Hudson said...

Thanks, fixed!

Anonymous said...

Them's mighty fancy pants, sir!

Anonymous said...

You're coming to California! Wow!Corte Madera is only a few hours drive- I can't wait.

Becky

Anonymous said...

I'm an hour from Corte Madera. Will you be speaking or just signing books? (I have my copy, signed by both of you, a gift from a dear Texan friend right after publication.)
Love to stop by & meet you.
Kath McCall (of the former Occasional Muse.)