You are invited to a book signing:
When: Saturday, December 20
Time: 9am-12pm
Where: Cool Springs Galleria, Belk Children's Department
You are invited to the book signing for Sweet Dreams, Anita Bonita!
Written and illustrated by: Wren Smith Anderson
When: Thursday, December 18
Time: 4:30-7:00pm (anytime)
Where: O'More College of Design, 423 South Margin Street, Franklin, TN 37064
Sweet Dreams: ‘Anita Bonita’ book honors stories, life of Anita Anderson
By Carole Robinson, staff writercrobinson@williamsonherald.com
It’s time for bed, but a tired Anita Bonita still craves something sweet to eat. With the help of her dog, Cody, Anita makes a delicious chocolate pecan milkshake. She takes the shake to her bedroom where she carefully prepares herself for the night, and that’s when the fun begins.To some, the story of Anita Bonita may appear vaguely familiar. The book, written by Wren Anderson, was inspired by an actual event. One of the many endearing qualities of the late Anita Anderson was the ability to laugh at herself – publicly, and she did so often on the blog she kept while battling breast cancer. On the blog, Anita wrote about of her many “chemo – moments;” her forgetfulness and times she just did silly things, and because she loved to be creative in the kitchen, many of her blogs involved food. Wren Anderson, Anita’s daughter-in-law through stepson Travis, has taken one of the moments Anita wrote about and created a children’s story that will put a smile on the face of adults and children; some because they knew Anita, others because they may have done something similar at one time. “I had heard a bunch of her friends talking about the milkshake story that was on her blog,” said Wren. “Then I woke up in the middle of the night when I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with the idea of a children’s book. This was the perfect story and it was the perfect way to honor (Anita) – with a children’s book.” One of those creative right-brained type of people, Wren admitted she has been drawing and painting since she could hold a crayon and she has always wanted to write a children’s book. “I tweaked the original story – added a few things to make it fun for kids, came up with a title and the book created itself,” she said. “I had all this creative energy when I was pregnant. I couldn’t sleep at night, so I did sketches.”A former retailer with a degree in business education who now stays at home with her 4-month old daughter Olivia, Wren admitted “Anita Bonita” and the possibility of a sequel – even a series based on the character — has done a lot to channel her creative juices.“I already have an idea for a second book,” she said. “It will be about (Anita’s) other son – it’ll be a more educational book.”Anita Anderson was an educator – from kindergarten teacher to principal, she devoted her life to children, and Anita loved to tell stories, so it was natural and easy to develop one of her many blog-tales into a children’s book, Wren said. Two days before Olivia was born, Wren met with the publisher of O’More Publishing, showed her the sketches and pitched the book. A month later “Anita Bonita” entered its first stage of publication. Now the book is available to the public, just in time for Christmas.Most of the proceeds of the book will go to the Anita Conchin Anderson Foundation to benefit breast cancer research programs and provide education and bring about awareness about breast cancer.“Anita Bonita” may be purchased online at www.AnitaBonitabooks.com or by mail. Just send a $17 check to: Anita Conchin Anderson Foundation, 2800 Iroquois Dr., Thompson’s Station, TN 37179.Join Wren Anderson at a book signing of “Anita Bonita” at O’More College of Design, 423 South Margin St. on Thursday, Dec. 18, from 4:30 – 7 p.m.
Posted on: 12/11/2008
'Sweet Dreams' puts lasting smile on educator's legacy
Daughter-in-law turns tale into children's book
By Mitchell Kline • THE TENNESSEAN • December 18, 2008
SPRING HILL — Anita Anderson loved to laugh and didn't mind being part of the punch line.
Leading up to her death, Anderson, a longtime educator and principal who passed away this summer, chronicled her battle with cancer on a Web site. She posted stories about her illness, the people she loved and things that made her laugh, even if the joke was on her.
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A family member has now used one of those funny stories as the plot for a new children's book and hopes that what was among Anderson's last laughs will put smiles on the faces of others.
"Anita had this great ability to just be able to laugh at herself," said Wren Anderson, who wrote and illustrated the book Sweet Dreams, Anita Bonita.
The book is based on a story Anita originally wanted to keep secret, but found too funny not to tell and post on her blog. While Anita's husband, County Mayor Rogers Anderson, was out of town and her son, Wes Gamble, was visiting, Anita decided to make a chocolate milkshake for dinner and planned to drink it while lying in bed. But she fell asleep after a few sips and ended up spilling the shake all over her pajamas and the bed. Anita and Wes laughed uncontrollably while cleaning up the mess.
"All her friends talked about the milkshake story on her blog," Wren Anderson said. "I thought it would be the perfect story for a children's book."
Wren Anderson, 28, lives in Spring Hill. She is Anita's daughter-in-law and is married to Rogers Anderson's son, Travis.
Wren said it didn't take her long to write the book or draw the 11 pictures that accompany the story. She worked on many of the illustrations while pregnant with her daughter, who was born Aug. 21. Wren took the book to O'More Publishing in Franklin, which agreed to an initial printing of more than 450 copies.
"I really liked the story," said Jessa Sexton, executive editor at O'More. "It reminded me of those little instances in life where you have this great little plan to do something naughty, like eating in bed, and it all goes awry."
Book will aid foundation
A portion of the money from book sales will go to the Anita Conchin Anderson Foundation, a nonprofit breast cancer awareness group started by family members. Wren said she'd always wanted to create a children's book and decided it could be a good way to raise money for the foundation.
While the book is dedicated to Anita, and there's a page mentioning her battle with breast cancer, the story doesn't deal with death. Wren said she wanted to keep it "happy" and has ideas for future books with Anita as the main character.
"There were many of those types of stories, and Anita was gifted at telling them," Rogers Anderson said. "She was a very creative person in her own right, sewing and writing and displaying some of the funny sides of her personality. Even during these difficult times, she learned to laugh at herself."
Anita Anderson, who died at 56, began and ended her teaching career in a kindergarten classroom. She was involved in education for more than 25 years, serving as principal at Trinity Elementary School, Page Middle School and Winstead Elementary School.
She returned to the kindergarten classroom in 2007 but was unable to finish the school year after her cancer worsened.
Wren Anderson said Anita was an inspiration to her because she remained positive despite battling cancer for more than eight years.
"She really had a hard time, but you would never know it," Wren said. "She was always more concerned about others."
Contact Mitchell Kline at 615-771-5417 or mkline@tennessean.com.
Daughter-in-law turns tale into children's book
By Mitchell Kline • THE TENNESSEAN • December 18, 2008
SPRING HILL — Anita Anderson loved to laugh and didn't mind being part of the punch line.
Leading up to her death, Anderson, a longtime educator and principal who passed away this summer, chronicled her battle with cancer on a Web site. She posted stories about her illness, the people she loved and things that made her laugh, even if the joke was on her.
OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1');
A family member has now used one of those funny stories as the plot for a new children's book and hopes that what was among Anderson's last laughs will put smiles on the faces of others.
"Anita had this great ability to just be able to laugh at herself," said Wren Anderson, who wrote and illustrated the book Sweet Dreams, Anita Bonita.
The book is based on a story Anita originally wanted to keep secret, but found too funny not to tell and post on her blog. While Anita's husband, County Mayor Rogers Anderson, was out of town and her son, Wes Gamble, was visiting, Anita decided to make a chocolate milkshake for dinner and planned to drink it while lying in bed. But she fell asleep after a few sips and ended up spilling the shake all over her pajamas and the bed. Anita and Wes laughed uncontrollably while cleaning up the mess.
"All her friends talked about the milkshake story on her blog," Wren Anderson said. "I thought it would be the perfect story for a children's book."
Wren Anderson, 28, lives in Spring Hill. She is Anita's daughter-in-law and is married to Rogers Anderson's son, Travis.
Wren said it didn't take her long to write the book or draw the 11 pictures that accompany the story. She worked on many of the illustrations while pregnant with her daughter, who was born Aug. 21. Wren took the book to O'More Publishing in Franklin, which agreed to an initial printing of more than 450 copies.
"I really liked the story," said Jessa Sexton, executive editor at O'More. "It reminded me of those little instances in life where you have this great little plan to do something naughty, like eating in bed, and it all goes awry."
Book will aid foundation
A portion of the money from book sales will go to the Anita Conchin Anderson Foundation, a nonprofit breast cancer awareness group started by family members. Wren said she'd always wanted to create a children's book and decided it could be a good way to raise money for the foundation.
While the book is dedicated to Anita, and there's a page mentioning her battle with breast cancer, the story doesn't deal with death. Wren said she wanted to keep it "happy" and has ideas for future books with Anita as the main character.
"There were many of those types of stories, and Anita was gifted at telling them," Rogers Anderson said. "She was a very creative person in her own right, sewing and writing and displaying some of the funny sides of her personality. Even during these difficult times, she learned to laugh at herself."
Anita Anderson, who died at 56, began and ended her teaching career in a kindergarten classroom. She was involved in education for more than 25 years, serving as principal at Trinity Elementary School, Page Middle School and Winstead Elementary School.
She returned to the kindergarten classroom in 2007 but was unable to finish the school year after her cancer worsened.
Wren Anderson said Anita was an inspiration to her because she remained positive despite battling cancer for more than eight years.
"She really had a hard time, but you would never know it," Wren said. "She was always more concerned about others."
Contact Mitchell Kline at 615-771-5417 or mkline@tennessean.com.
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