Category Archives: Jasper Amazon Parrot

Bird conversations, Jasper Amazon Parrot

Mimic vs Intelligence: Jasper

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My bird Jasper is a rather interesting bird. The fact he can talk to us and respond appropriately always amazes me. Some people can say he is just mimicking you, and yes on occasion he does. But here are some examples of Jasper knowing when to say the right thing.

For the record Jasper hates bugs. One day I saw he was still as can be. I followed his eyes and the direction and soon came across the object that had my bird captivated. It was a bug. Getting a paper towel I killed the bug and picked it up. Now we can’t just toss the bug out. Oh no no no. Jasper has to see the dead body or else he will still be looking at it. This particular day this was our conversation.

Me: “Look Jasper I got the bug for you.” I went to his rail to show him. He walked steadily toward me keeping his eye on the tissue.

Seeing the bug was dead he said, “Thank you.” Jasper then proceeded to go back to his ladder.

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If that does not convince you then how about this. I was going about my business talking to Jasper but not really paying attention to him. Finally it occurred to me he was not listening as he held perfectly still. He eyes locked with mine and then to his beak then to my eyes again. Leaning in close I saw Jasper had an ant on his beak.

On cue he said, “Mom.”

I replied, “Yes Jasper what?”

“Mom, help.”

Of course I did what any normal person would do. I started to laugh, my poor bird. He did not take kindly to that.

“Mom.”

“Yes Jas?”

“Help, now.”

Which I did after which I gave his head a pat which was his payment to me for helping him out. These little scenes occur often for my family and Jasper. Thanks to that he has given me so much material some of which was incorporated in my book, Jasper, Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure.

He does mimic yes but there are so many times he responds at the right time with the right saying which just shows us how smart our Jasper is.

Book, Jasper Amazon Parrot, Preorder Jasper

First Copy Sold: Jasper

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This past Friday people were able to not only preorder my book but also get it signed.

http://www.fountainbluepublishing.com/featured-authors.html

The site was released on a few of my social media sites. I had not expected anyone to really do this.

However my friend Sue, from back home, who I have known since birth, went and got herself a signed copy. I honestly can not properly describe that feeling. Those who have been there before me understand the emotions that erupts when this happens. Happy tears ensued upon hearing the news. I could strike this off my list of things I wanted to get accomplished with this book.

My publisher has been keeping me up to date as the numbers are being sold. I have been writing, talking, breathing this book for so long so to see the fruits of it come to light brings me to a place I could not possibly imagine.

I wish I could capture the emotions in a bottle. Now that would sell.

Book Covers, Illustration, Jasper Amazon Parrot

My Book and Images

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This past Friday, the illustrator sent me four images for my book Jasper, Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure. They were primarily to see if she was on the right track in conveying the image I wanted for him. Opening up the email I was blown away. I knew immediately which one was my favorite. Granted I am going to ask her to make some changes here and there but she is in the direction I had anticipated. Like most anything I asked for people’s advice on which one they liked and didn’t like and why. Just because I have final say on the covers doesn’t mean I know what I am doing here.

So a variety of people looked at them. I had other writers, my family, people at the store where I was making copies of the images to kids who had read the actual book. What I was hearing was that I seemed to be the only one who liked the one image that had stood out to me.

Crap.

This is an important decision, the book cover for your book. It has to be amazing for people to even want to pick up just to read the back cover. If it is not appealing it will gather dust on the shelves. I must have emailed my poor editor at least 20 times, if not more, as we went over each one carefully.

Among the various suggestions a light bulb finally lit over my head. The reason people were not liking the image I liked was due to positioning of Jasper. They loved the side profile he had in the other three images. So I tried this out. I started asking people if image 1 would work if it was a side profile. People liked, they really liked that idea.

I mailed Kim, the illustrator, and asked her if she could make some slight changes to two of the images to see which one really pop. She is awesome and is so willing to work with me in creating something that even Jasper would be proud off. I don’t have the image here for it is going to be work on but when it is ready I will release it. This was a little stressful these last few days as I tried to figure out what worked. We shouldn’t always ignore our gut feelings, it may know something that we don’t already know. Even if that means it has to be tweaked a little bit.