National Stop Bullying Day by Merrillee Whren

Usually I try to blog about something fun, and in the past on October 14, I have posted photos of desserts because it's also National Dessert Day. But today's blog is on a more serious note. Many years ago, I was an elementary school teacher. So I witnessed how bullying could affect some of my students. Every year it seemed as though one or two children in my class were bullied. 

In 2009, many years after I stopped teaching, a group of students from St. Stanislaus Kostka in Michigan City, Indiana, made the second Wednesday of October National Stop Bullying Day. You can read more about the day at this link. It is a sad thing to be bullied, and bullying is also bad for the person doing the bullying. I think it is a tough situation to handle. Awareness is a starting place.

I have a novella in the Puppies for Christmas. The little boy in the story is the victim of bullying. I don't want you to think the story is a downer. It has its lighthearted moments as well, but it does highlight an issue that is a problem for children and even adults. 

     When elementary school teacher Sedona Welch sets a goal to lose fifteen pounds, she doesn’t expect to barter her tutoring services in exchange for personal training, especially with a handsome personal trainer.

     Cody Dunn has all he can deal with taking care of his eight-year-old nephew, Mason. Cody finds an ally in Sedona as she helps him negotiate the guardianship of this troubled boy. But he doesn’t anticipate his nephew’s love for a cute little puppy or his own attraction to Sedona.

     Can well-meaning friends, a little boy, and a puppy help this reluctant couple find love at Christmas?

Have you ever been the victim of bullying or know someone who was bullied? How did you handle it?

Be sure to check out all the novellas in the Puppies for Christmas. They are all 99 cents. So get your copies now! You can find them at these links.

Oct 1st-Beneath Northern Lights by Lyn Cote

Oct 8th-Mistletoe Puppy by Roxanne Rustand

Oct 15th-Christmas Redemption by Laura Scott

Oct 22nd-Puppy Love and Jingle Bells by Merrillee Whren

Oct 29th-Joy Comes to Bedford Falls by Susan Aylworth

Nov 5th-A Christmas Puppy to Cherish by Josie Riviera

Merrillee Whren is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance Writers of American. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of forty-plus years, and has two grown daughters. Connect with her on her Facebook page and sign up for her newsletter.