Waiting for Little Red Bear . . . .

June 3, 2015 / jrmilson / 1 Comment

Just a quick update. As you read this, Amazon helpers are working feverishly, fueled by gallons of coffee, hot chocolate and sugar cookies, to get “The Adventures of Little Red Bear” short stories collection set to go for you.

They are busily copying, pasting and stitching together the final formats and links for the Kindle and Print versions, and trimming the seams. One of the bird images apparently slipped out of the print version last night and caused a heck of a mess flying about, but has been put back in place without further incident, thank goodness. Word is a lot of duct tape, Elmer’s glue and staples were involved overnight working to get the two formats put together. As I understand it, the staples are mostly for the various links involved, but might be wrong. I’m not really very technical.

Please stay tuned. We’re almost there. Red has been so excited the past few days he couldn’t sit down and alternated between pacing and paddling around the lake, eventually plopping down for a nap, worn out. It’s best really. Patience and bears frequently tend to travel on different roads.

So please stay tuned. As soon as the Amazon techies finish their work and we get the official okie-dokie, we will have release information and more details to share. We are so close!

Thanks as always for visiting! — Jim (and Red!)

“The Adventures of Little Red Bear– “It Won’t Be Long Now!”

May 27, 2015 / jrmilson / 2 Comments

A quick bit of news to share this morning– Red and I just placed an order for a final proof copy for the print book version of his short story collection “The Adventures of Little Red Bear!” Hip-Huzzah!

We’re getting very close to the release and everyone is starting to get excited here. Well, maybe not the weasels, but they have their own issues.

So, please stay tuned for more updates soon. As the farmer’s cat said when it got its tail caught in the fan– “It won’t be long now!” — Jim (and Red!)

Found on Pinterest via National Geographic, uncredited

Happy Memorial Day Weekend– Sharing Our Seas & Shores!

May 23, 2015May 24, 2015 / jrmilson / Leave a comment

Wishing everyone a very Happy and Safe Memorial Day weekend!

If heading to the beach, inland waterways, or anywhere out with nature and wildlife, please remember this is nesting and babies season. Please teach the kids to keep a respectful distance for their own and the wildlife’s safety not to damage any nests, eggs or babies. When we are out on the beach, in the woods or on the rivers and streams, we are really guests and visitors in someone else’s home. Here is a link to a great article and advice from the American Bird Conservancy→ Fish, Swim and Play From 50 Yards Away

For more information, please visit the National Audubon Society→ Sharing Our Seas & Shores

Image via National Wildlife Federation, by Jim Gray

Hope everyone has a chance to have a picnic, go hiking or biking, play softball, go fishing, splash in the surf, go boating or swimming this weekend and enjoy the great outdoors, fresh air, exercise and the start of the summer season! Remember to bring the sunscreen. Stay safe and please keep an eye out for rip currents, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcycles!

And please pause for a moment to reflect on the real meaning of the weekend.

Memorial Day this year is especially important as we are reminded almost daily of the great sacrifices that the men and women of the Armed Services make to defend our way of life.

Robin Hayes

“Memorial Day this year is especially important as we are reminded almost daily of the great sacrifices that the men and women of the Armed Services make to defend our way of life.”– Robin Hayes

Little Red Bear always reminds– “Remember when visiting in Mother Nature’s home, leave nothing behind but footprints, take nothing away but memories, and kill nothing but time.”

Memorial Day this year is especially important as we are reminded almost daily of the great sacrifices that the men and women of the Armed Services make to defend our way of life.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_memorialday.html#lqIY9pTKYCMBMxPw.99

Memorial Day this year is especially important as we are reminded almost daily of the great sacrifices that the men and women of the Armed Services make to defend our way of life.

Robin Hayes

Have a wonderful weekend and visit back next week for an important update on “The Adventures of Little Red Bear” short stories collection. Hint- it’s coming very soon! — Jim (and Red!)

Birds- Little Blue Heron Family at Lowry Park, Pinterest, not photo signature

Little Blue Heron Family, Paul Fernandez Photography

Springtime in the Ozarks with Little Red Bear!

May 14, 2015May 14, 2015 / jrmilson / Leave a comment

Welcome to “Springtime in the Ozarks Mountain Country”, Little Red Bear’s newest video and book trailer for the soon to be released “Adventures of Little Red Bear” short stories collection!

With his first collection of short story adventures to be released very soon, Red couldn’t wait to show everyone springtime in his neck of the woods and all that is going on around. As Creative Director on the video projects, Little Red Bear wanted it to be filled only with beautiful images and music for you, but our esteemed attorney, Brooks the Badger, insisted that he include a few promo texts for the upcoming book as well. They finally agreed on just a couple.

If you enjoy Red’s video, please feel free to share and pass along to friends and family, and consider giving him a “Thumbs Up!” like on youtube. It really makes his day as he watches the numbers go up and gets him out working on the next one even sooner.

Big bear hugs and thank you’s to fellow birder Adele Barger Wilson, author of “Bonding With the Barn Swallows” for permitting us to use some of her images, and to the Missouri Wildflower Guide for making their images available for use.

Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for visiting! — Jim (and Red!)

Introducing “Little Red Bear”– the First Book Trailer Video!

May 4, 2015May 14, 2015 / jrmilson / 2 Comments

Little Red Bear and I are excited to announce the release of the very first video trailer for the upcoming “The Adventures of Little Red Bear” stories!

“The Adventures of Little Red Bear” is a collection of six short stories about a bear and his many friends living in the scenic Ozarks Mountain Country, with the initial collection of stories entitled “The First Holler!” available on Amazon soon for Kindle and Paperback. Fun, family-friendly and entertaining for all age groups, the stories have underlying themes of positivity, nature, kindness, and helping others. There is always time to stop along the roadside to smell a wildflower and listen to a songbird. The stories are told at an enjoyably relaxing pace in a style I just call “Country Comfortable.”

Hope you enjoy the video. And if you do, please share with friends and family. Red had so much fun serving as Producer and Creative Director on this first trailer that he has the crew out working on more videos right now. He recommends viewing on full screen with the speakers on, for total immersion in the outdoor experience.

Please keep an eye out for more videos coming soon as we near the book release date, some featuring more information about the book and characters, and some others just for fun. You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks as they say, but perhaps an old man and bear– given enough time and aspirin– can figure out how to make a tolerably presentable video.

Some future videos will feature a number of photos from blog followers and Facebook friends allowing their own images to be shared for the enjoyment of others. As a testament to goodness in the world, every individual approached about sharing photos has agreed enthusiastically without hesitation. As you may expect, while flowers, plants and trees tend to be easier subjects, it’s very difficult sometimes getting a critter to hold still long enough to focus the camera and capture a good likeness, not to mention birds in mid-flight holding their position, not being helicopters as they are.

So Red and I truly appreciate those kindhearted and generous folks permitting us to share their photography work with you as we go along. (And if we unintentionally step on anyone’s copyright toes, please accept our apologies and just drop us a note if there is something not to be shared before showing up on the front porch with a shotgun. Or worse– one of those lawyer fellas.)

We both hope you enjoy these little videos as much as we enjoy making them for you. So here is the first one– “Introducing Little Red Bear.” Thanks as always for reading and following along! – Jim (and Red!)

Pigs and Other Barnyard Folks

May 1, 2015May 1, 2015 / jrmilson / Leave a comment

Pigs. I like ’em. There, I said it. I like pigs. And goats and sheep and chickens and ducks and cows and mules and other barnyard folks. And so does Little Red Bear, when he can understand them. And there are a good number of each that are going to be wandering in and out of the upcoming “Adventures of Little Red Bear” stories. There’s a certain little mini pig that is especially problematic for Little Red Bear in the first collection of stories, and we’re working with a whole fleet of ducks already for the second collection.

The stories are indeed backwoods adventures, but with a number of farms nearby Little Red Bear has a great many friends on the farm, too. So, kind of just giving you a heads-up if you’re not of the same mind about the pigs and such. Careful where you step while turning the pages.

And if you do like pigs, I hope you enjoy this little video → A Pig’s Guide to Being a Dog.

The first collection of short stories in “The Adventures of Little Red Bear” will be released very soon– “The First Holler!” Watch for the first official book trailer in the next few days. Thanks as always for stopping by! — Jim (and Red!)