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.
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
Paperback, Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0985936770/?tag=penandpublish-20
Kindle, Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LTA7JZE/?tag=penandpublish-20
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/458220
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
