Mrs. Duck Updates pictured left: Hawk & Kara Jones Founders of KotaPress

September 2003

We're still working on gathering an overwhelming amount of information about this project we've undertaken! Adrienne Wehr has so gracefully and openly shared of her time and expertise in the film world. We wish we had a million dollars with which to repay her for her generosity. She gave us many resources of information to work with in terms of creating ways to present our film project and get it going.

We have to thank Oma for being our first major sponsor! Because of her, we have been able to invest in the first major software tools we need to bring our animation ideas to life. We have a steep learning curve in front of us immediately now, but we are grateful for the challenge.

We got our first research book this month: The Ultimate Guide to Film Festivals. :) WOW! There are a *lot* of festivals out there. As we're looking at the book, I'm also reading online about the Toronto and Venice Film Fests. Who knows -- maybe we'll see you there in a few years??

Heather Scarlett Arnet had previously agreed to do the screenplay of the animation with me (Kara), and I'm thrilled to say she has also agreed to help me pull out the writings of the animation that we might use in the documentary footage. These will be the ideas we'll base the education and trainings on as well. I am so grateful for her perspective and eyes :) She has enough distance from the material, but a tremendous sensitivity, that I think her wisdoms can only enhance this project!

And this month, I want to thank Adrienne Edmonson for just connecting with me on an artistic level and helping me look some of my fears in the face straight on as we move through this 2 to 5 year project!! Her help in terms of artistry, but also in terms of the business of our art, is just proving to be tremendous. Maybe, too, it's the deadline of having things ready to show her every Tuesday! :) Whatever the trick is, it is working -- for this, I thank you, A!!

We'll have more news next month, so check back then. And as always, if you have expertise, software, money, connection, or anything you'd like to lend to the project, please be in touch!!! We will be needing many hands to bring this all to fruition!!!

Miracles,

-Kara & Hawk Jones
Founders of KotaPress
Creators of Mrs. Duck & The Woman

August 2003

Just wanted to give everyone an update about the Mrs. Duck Project. When this started four years ago, after the death of our son, I had simply written a little story and wanted to share it with other bereaved parents. Many things have evolved for us since then.

Over 1,000 copies of the book have been given away free to bereaved families. Several more hundred have been sold to various readers who wished to support our work by purchasing the book. We've had millions of hit on our website where we offer the book in free ebook and Flash animation versions. We've heard from parents, grandparents, RNs, OBs, midwives, grief therapists and many more about the impact this little book has had on them. We are grateful for every single word of feedback!

Now, in 2003, we have updates about the Mrs. Duck Project:

-We've sadly learned that more than 29,000 families per year in the U.S. alone suffer the death of a child to stillbirth. Over 120,000 children die every year in the U.S. -- and 70% of those children are under a year old (as noted from the MISS Foundation). And the worldwide count in addition to the number of miscarriages (not included in the numbers above), well, the numbers of deaths just rise exponentially. We've decided that we like to progress the Mrs. Duck Project to offer outreach to any and all of these families. While the story will remain the same, we will be expanding the book to include a support article or two, along with resources for finding online and off-line support after the death of a child, regardless of circumstances. We hope to make this edition of the book available by 2004.

-We are honored to have had the generosity of time and expertise from Carla Hoffman, Nicole Maxwell, and Magdalena Arze Maxwell as they traslated the story for us into the Spanish!! Again we hope to have the Spanish edition available by 2004.

-We are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with the MISS Foundation to create a film version of the story along with a documentary. The book will be expanded to be used as a healing tool with the film. We've got some homework to do to layout the plan for the project, to get the grant writer fully on board, but we're off and running. We're also excited to announce that Heather Scarlett Arnet has agreed to do the screenplay of the story with us as well. Lots of exciting things happening.

-As always if you are able to support the project through the donation of money or time or expertise, we'd be thrilled to talk with you. For all of you who are so generously offering these things already, we are most grateful!

Miracles,

Kara L.C. Jones
Founder, KotaPress
Author, Mrs. Duck & The Woman