Monday, March 9, 2015

Book Tour: Confessions of an Imperfect Caregiver by Bobbi Carducci


Author Bio:

Bobbi Carducci is a former senior staff writer for the Purcellville Gazette, a small Washington, D.C. area newspaper. Her short stories appear in the Chicken Soup for the Soul and Cup of Comfort Anthologies as well is in print and online magazines.

Bobbi’s book for young readers, Storee Wryter Gets a Dog, received both a Mom’s Choice Award for and a Living Now Award for Excellence. It was also named A Best Dog Book for Young Readers by Cesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer.

For three years she wrote a monthly book review column for About Families Publications before resigning to concentrate on writing Confessions of an Imperfect Caregiver and her blog, The Imperfect Caregiver. Bobbi also writes monthly posts on caregiving for AgingCare.com and The Caregiver Space.

Bobbi serves on the Board of Directors of Pennwriters, a national writers group with over 400 members, a position she had held for eleven years. In 2014 she received the Pennwriters Meritorious Service Award in recognition of her continuing support of the organization. She was the luncheon keynote speaker at the Pennwriters Annual Conference in 2013. She serves as a judge for the annual Benjamin Franklin Book Awards.

In her capacity as Founder and Executive Director of the Young Voices Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) educational nonprofit established to mentor young writers, she created he Young Voices Awards honoring books that Inspire, Mentor and/or Educate Readers of all ages.
www.youngvoicesfoundation.org and www.youngvoicesawards.com

PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Bobbi Carducci lives in Round Hill, Virginia with her husband, Michael. When not writing, Bobbi enjoys the company of her family and friends, frequently inviting them to join her for a glass of wine and storytelling on the deck of her home overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. 
You may contact her directly via email at bcarducci@comcast.net

Bobbi Carducci's website: 
Barnes & Noble:

Links to where book is sold



Book Tour:

What happens when you are called upon to care for an elderly family member or friend, and you have
no idea how to do it? Caring for a loved one can be a scary, exhausting and rewarding situation—and with an aging baby-boom population, it’s one that an increasing number of Americans find themselves facing.
Confessions of an Imperfect Caregiver, a new book by Bobbi Carducci, is an honest, uplifting account of the author’s experiences in caring for her father-in-law, who suffered from schizophrenia, age-related dementia, and a host of other health issues.

Bobbi Carducci was an in-home caregiver for her father-in-law, Rodger, for seven years. During that time, Carducci learned to navigate the health care system and support Rodger through the challenges of schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, age-related dementia, dysphagia, C.O.P.D., and congestive heart failure. By sharing her experiences, she hopes to help those now caring for loved ones at home.



My top ten favorite things by Bobbi Carducci
1. cuddling with my husband
2. the sound of my grandchildren laughing
 3. an ice cold vodka martini with extra olives
4. milk chocolate melting in my mouth
5. time in my hot tub under the stars
6. a new pair of gorgeous high heeled shoes
7. reading anything by Joshilyn Jackson (author of Gods in Alabama)
8. laughing so hard I can’t catch my breath (this usually comes after more than one #3)
9. soft serve ice cream

10. finishing the Sunday crossword puzzle in the Washington Post

Main Character Casting:
(I love getting a look into how the author thinks. This time she had to choose actors to play herself and her family members. What do you think!? Post any alternate suggestions below! I could totally see this on the Hallmark channel someday!)

Rodger Carducci – 
Robert Duval

Bobbi Carducci –
Diane Keaton

Michael Carducci – 
Dustin Hoffman


And here is a snippet, 
so you can use insert those fabulous faces into the book!

“Oh boy, you’re in for it now,” Mike said to the nurse. “From the look in my wife’s eye, I know you just added fuel to her anger.”
“Where is the patient advocate?” I asked. “I want her here as well.”
“She’s not in today. But I will make her aware of the situation as soon as I can.”
“When you do,” I spoke very slowly and clearly, “Make sure you inform her that we did not drop him off like baggage. You inform her he was transferred to your ward from the ICU where he was being treated for blood clots in his arm that developed after insertion of a pacemaker. You inform her that he suffered a heart attack on Thanksgiving Day. You see to it that she understands that he suffers from Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and age-related dementia, and that the pneumonia he has now was most likely caused by aspiration due to his dysphagia—and your staff may have made it worse today.
“You inform her that he has been a VA hospital patient since 1947 and a patient here for six years, and that his case is one of the most complicated you will ever come across. His combination of illnesses demand constant attention and his chart should come up with a red flag on every page, warning hospital personnel of the danger he can be to himself if he wanders off, and the risks of leaving him unattended at meals. You make sure everyone knows he is not to be given razors or straws or laxatives.
“Will you do that when you speak to her? Will you do what I have done every day for six years and then sit in that chair and lecture me on how I wasn’t present when he arrived on your ward last night? How dare you suggest that we are less than responsible when you are speaking from inexcusable ignorance of the patient you say is you main priority?”
I sat back in my chair, exhausted and in tears, wondering if I had just made things worse. I needed these people. There were times when I had to leave him in their care. I couldn’t afford to alienate them.
The nurse looked at me in stunned silence. Nobody moved for several seconds, and then Mike did what only he would do in a situation like that. He rose to his feet and began clapping.
“Bravo, my darling, well done!”

At first I couldn’t believe my ears, and then I discovered I was laughing through my tears. I fell in love with him all over again in that moment. What woman wouldn’t adore a man who supported her fully, even when she made an ass of herself.


Book Tour Schedule:

March 4
March 5
March 6
March 7
March 8
March 9
March 10