WOW! Women on Writing Book Blog Tour for Rose Colored Glasses by Jo Ann Simon

Thank you WOW! Women on Writing for including us in this book blog tour - and thank you to Michelle DelPonte for your thoughtful review. As a side note I have to say Michelle was rather insistent she be allowed to read this book - and she told me several times while she was reading: "I LOVE THIS BOOK" - so take it from Michelle and run out today and pick up your own copy of this touching memoir !!

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Dear Tom,
I'm back on Anna Maria Island... missing you.
But walking down these beautiful beaches reminds me of us and makes
me feel a little less far away from you. And that encourages me as I am writing our story.
Hopefully this will help other people who are feeling our pain too.
I love and miss you every day, darling.
Love,
Me

When he first saw me, Tom said that he would spend the rest of his life with me. To my surprise, he actually did. He was the love of my life. We shared a story that felt like a dream. Every moment was an adventure... and then Tom became ill. As his mysterious symptoms persisted we were hurtled through a maze of fear, tests, doubts and sorrow. But while doctors toyed with diagnoses--Lyme disease, ALS--we filled each day with joy, hope, good food, wine, music and travel. Even when death came to crush our storybook romance, we found that the human spirit is greater than the frailties of the body, greater than suffering and grief.

From the fateful tick bite on Block Island to central nervous system failure, to healing my grief and loss, I stayed afloat, upbeat, and connected to Tom through devotion, true love, and by donning my own special pair of rose-colored glasses.

Paperback:  288 Pages
Publisher:  WiDO Publishing (May 29th 2018)
Genre: Memoir
ISBN-10: 1947966049
ISBN-13: 978-1947966048

Rose Colored Glasses is available for purchase in print and as an ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.  



About the Author:

Jo Ann Simon, a corporate executive, is a lifelong nutmegger, living in various locations in the Nutmeg state of Connecticut. She is a constant traveler, exploring the world including her favorite country, Italy. When she is not traveling, Jo Ann loves spending time with her family, friends and her seven grandchildren. Her day job running a company, painting fine art, gardening and writing fill in the blanks of her life. Palm trees are essential in her personal landscape with beaches to match.

Find JoAnn Online:

Website: https://www.joann-simon.com/

Blog: https://forgetmenotjosi.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ForgetMeNotJoSi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joannsimonauthorpage/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-ann-simon-27626518/

Instagram: forgetmenotjosi

-----Review by Michelle DelPonte

Everyone imagines meeting the man/woman of their dreams, marrying, and spending the rest of their days happy and in love. While Tom lived the rest of his days in love with Jo Ann, he grew ill soon after they were married. Happily ever after came way too soon. Jo Ann chose to make the best of their time together, living with no regrets, holding dear the precious memories they made.

Jo Ann Simon writes, “These types of moments make you realize your entire life is made up of precious moments. Everyone has a collection of the best moments in their lives that sit next to the worst moments.” Rose Colored Glasses demonstrates how life takes us all for a ride, exciting and inconceivably difficult, but beautiful all at the same time. Jo Ann speaks of all the spectrum of emotions. While being dealt a tough hand, she shields herself with those rose-colored glasses.

As someone who works in the medical field, I enjoyed all the medical talk in this book. I discovered it all was tremendously interesting. I found myself praying for the answers they were looking for. I kept the hope alive, despite knowing the final outcome. I was swept away by their love story, like I was there to witness it myself. Jo Ann kept my attention from the minute I started reading. This is a quick and engrossing read. I recommend this five-star book to anyone who wants to go on a once in a lifetime love story.

Jo Ann, you are an inspiration. I don’t know that I could ever be as brave as you were. You handled this tragedy with love, faith, and grace. I pray you continue to live in that happiness, until you are united with Tom again.

About Michelle...

Michelle DelPonte is a busy mom and health care worker. Her two sons are the focus of her life and she works diligently to raise awareness about autism in the community. She loves reading, anything to do with history and geocaching just to name a few of her many hobbies. Michelle, her husband Ben and their two sons Sebastian and Asher live in Manitowoc, WI on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan where they enjoy walking and biking on the Mariner’s Trail and spending time at the Library.



----------Blog Tour Dates

Monday, July 23rd @ The Muffin
Author Interview and Giveaway!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

Tuesday, July 24th @ JoAnn Simon
Crystal Casavant-Otto reviews Rose Colored Glasses by Jo Ann Simon - don't miss this opportunity to learn more about Jo Ann's touching memoir.
https://forgetmenotjosi.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, July 25th @ Bring on Lemons with Michelle DelPonte
Wisconsin mother, wife, and autism advocate Michelle DelPonte reviews Rose Colored Glasses by Jo Ann Simon and shares her thoughts with readers at Bring on Lemons. This is an unforgettable memoir!
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Thursday, July 26th @ Beverley Baird
Beverley Baird reviews Rose Colored Glasses by Jo Ann Simon. This touching memoir is one readers won't soon forget! You'll want to add this one to your #TBRPile today!
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/

Friday, July 27th @ Choices
The readers at Madeline Sharples blog, Choices, are in for a special treat today as Jo Ann Simon pens the guest post "Seeing Art Through the Artist's Eye". Readers can enjoy this post while also learning about Simon's memoir Rose Colored Glasses recently published by WiDO Publishing.
http://madelinesharples.com/

Monday, July 30th @ Selling Books with Cathy Stucker
Cathy Stucker interview Jo Ann Simon about her recently published memoir Rose Colored Glasses
https://www.sellingbooks.com/

Tuesday, July 31st @ World of My Imagination
Nicole Pyles reviews Rose Colored Glasses by Jo Ann Simon and shares her thoughts with readers at World of My Imagination. Don't miss a chance to learn about this memoir of love and loss.
https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

Thursday, August 2nd @ Memoir Writer's Journey
Today's post at Memoir Writer's Journey includes a guest post titled "Simplicity in Life" written by Jo Ann Simon. There is also a link to Kathleen Pooler's review of Simon's recently published memoir Rose Colored Glasses. Readers won't want to miss this opportunity to learn more about Simon and her lovely memoir.
https://krpooler.com/

Tuesday, August 7th @ Bring on Lemons
Today's author spotlight at Bring on Lemons is Jo Ann Simon featuring her recently published memoir Rose Colored Glasses. Don't miss a chance to learn about Simon and check out Crystal's review of this touching memoir.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, August 8th @ Lisa Haselton
Lisa Haselton interviews Jo Ann Simon about her memoir Rose Colored Glasses (and more)!
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, August 8th @ Margo Dill
Today's guest author is Jo Ann Simon of Rose Colored Glasses - and today's topic is "A Positive Attitude". Don't miss this blog stop!
http://margodill.com/blog/

Monday, August 13th @ Write Happy
Catherine Brown reviews Rose Colored Glasses a touching memoir by JoAnn Simon.
https://www.writehappy.net/blog

Monday, August 13th @ Coffee with Lacey
Lacey reviews Rose Colored Glasses by Jo Ann Simon. Don't miss the opportunity to learn more about this inspirational memoir about love, loss, and hope!
https://coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com/

Thursday, August 16th @ Ellen Valladares
Fellow author Ellen Valladares reviews Rose Colored Glasses by JoAnn Simon.
https://ellenvalladares.com/

Wednesday, August 22nd @ Linda Appleman Shapiro
Fellow memoirist Linda Appleman Shapiro shares her thoughts after reading Rose Colored Glasses by Jo Ann Simon.
http://applemanshapiro.com/category/book-reviews/

Thursday, August 23rd @ Bring on Lemons with Cathy Hansen
Wisconsin educator, mother, and business owner Cathy Hansen reviews the memoir Rose Colored Glasses by Jo Ann Simon.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Keep up with the latest stops by following us on twitter @WOWBlogTour.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Dear Younger (20 something year old) Self:

Remember when you thought 30 was old? Well here we are - 41 trips around the sun, 6 beautiful children (one still in diapers), and not only were you WAY wrong on 30 being old, but 41 doesn't feel so bad either. I am cautiously covering up a few grey hairs and I don't wear bootie shorts out of the house anymore, but this isn't the worst gig. You should go ahead and enjoy shaking dice and doing shots though - because hangovers aren't quite as easy to recover from (not sure if it's the age or the number of children). I don't have any advice for you - I look back and though I'm not proud of each and every decision I made, they got me where I am today. You will find your knight in shining armor (so keep kissing idiots in tin foil). You will figure out how to bake a loaf of bread (and your thighs may not appreciate the new skill). You'll survive sleepless nights with new babies (and secretly love each and every moment - knowing you are someone's every thing). You'll even learn to love your body and all it's imperfections! I suppose that brings me to some advice - not a lecture though -

Be nicer to yourself. Someday you'll look back and think "I was so thin" even though at the moment you are thinking "I'm so fat" - it won't really make sense until you are my age and your boobs no longer stay where you expect them too without massive amounts of hardware and you laugh at the mere thought of wearing a thong. You should also be nicer to your mother - but that won't make sense until you ARE a mother either. You have that sign in your kitchen that says "be nice or go home" and honestly young lady, it would do you some good to be nicer to yourself and your mama!

Last but not least - I love you. I love all those hard night you felt all alone. I love you when your heart was breaking. I love you when you were making decisions and you felt so incredibly small but you did the hard things. I love that you never gave up. I love that everything you endured got me here. You did all the hard shit with your head held high and now it's my turn to carry the load - I'm not old though my dear, but I am a bit wiser than you. Keep loving with everything you've got! Keep enjoying everything life has to offer!

Love, Hugs, and Happy Birthday from 41!!




Dear Older (80 something year old) Self:

I hope you know all these pictures I'm taking are for you? I don't want you to forget the smell of fresh cut grass, baby breath in the morning, breastmilk kisses, baby poop, Mark's cologne, and even that distinct smell of Andre and Breccan's room (kind of like a sandbox and a gym locker). I don't want you to forget what each of the children looks like before those first teeth come in. I want you to remember every first day of school, each graduation, every ball game, swim meet, and band concert. I'm enjoying them so much and the truth is, the thought of those memories growing faint is terrifying. I make sure to get my steps in each day and eat right so you can enjoy those grandbabies and great grandbabies that seem so far off in my 41 year old mind. I love each of your wrinkles, each of your smile lines, and each of those knowing glances you'll give the kids when they bring those little bundles of joy to visit you. I'm sorry they don't visit more often, but I hope you'll enjoy all the little memories and keepsakes I've tucked away for you!

Love, Hugs, and Happy Birthday from 41!