Street Teams for Caregivers by guest author Linda Brendle

Street Teams for Caregivers 

A guest post by author Linda Brendle

When Keely graciously invited me to be a guest on her blog, I looked around her site to get the lay of the land, so to speak. Her tab labeled “Street Team” immediately caught my eye. The term was unfamiliar to me, but it was the second time in a week I had run across it, so I did some research.

Wikipedia defines a street team as a group of people who are used as a promotional tool, hitting the streets—or the Internet—to promote an event or a product—or a book. Street teams for authors love good books and agree to talk, tweet and post about them. They post teasers, pictures, links, and reviews on social media sites, and sometimes they receive perks like mugs, T-shirts, posters, or discounts on purchasing more books.

While I have received lots of support for my book, I don’t have an organized street team. I began thinking what that team might look like. Many of my supporters are relatives, friends, and fellow authors, but many of them are caregivers. Caregivers are usually pulled in several directions at once as they try to balance a life that is already too full, so I couldn’t imagine they would have time to add book promotion to their to-do lists. From there, I began to wonder what a street team for caregivers would look like.

Team Caregiver would be made up of people who love others, especially caregivers. These people would agree to keep in touch with the caregiver by phone, text, email, cards, and visits. Instead of receiving perks, they might offer them—a small I’m-thinking-of-you gift, a batch of homemade cookies, or a casserole for dinner. Other offerings might be gifts of service like mowing the lawn or helping with housekeeping duties. Most of all, they would offer their time, visiting with the “caree” while the caregiver goes for a walk or to a movie.

A street team can be a great asset to an author, but experience has taught me that a group of loving supporters is vital for a caregiver.

About the Author:

After 15 years as a family caregiver, Linda began writing to encourage, inspire and amuse other caregivers. She loves to travel and since retiring has traveled mostly by motorcycle and RV. She and her husband live in a small East Texas town where she gardens, writes and attends church.

Author Links: Author Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Release Date: July 1st, 2014

from Anaiah Press

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Synopsis:

Sometimes reality really bites. Alzheimer’s has wrapped Mom’s brain into knots, vascular dementia has attacked Dad, and, instead of carefree retirees, we have become caregivers. Regardless, dreams die hard, and we somehow stumbled into the purchase of a forty-foot motor home. That’s when all four of us set out on this seven-week trek across sixteen U.S. states. Now, Dad stopped-up the toilet again, Mom wet her last pair of clean jeans, and David just announced that he was hungry. My head is beginning to pound, and I know this isn't going to be the easygoing retirement we’d imagined for ourselves.

Linda Brendle takes you on a roller-coaster ride of emotional and spiritual challenges that many families are facing right now. Co-dependency, mental breakdowns, and finding love after divorce are just a few of the issues weaved into this journey of caregiving. Whether you’re looking for an inspirational story to help teach you how to “let go and let God,” considering becoming the caregiver for one of your own parents, or are just looking for an entertaining travel book, this story is sure to strike a tender nerve.

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