Patricia Sands

Author

divorce

Are you a Suddenly Single Woman?

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Helen Wilkie is the vibrant and energizing founder of the new communityHelen red glasses Suddenly Single Woman.  

After 41 years as part of a happily married couple, she is learning to live as a happily single woman after being widowed a few years ago. Helen is quick to express, in her delightful Scottish accent:  “It hasn’t been easy. In fact sometimes it was so hard I just wanted to stay home and see nobody ever again.”

Well, she didn’t just stay home and she is encouraging other women who are suddenly on their own to follow her lead.

After a long and successful career as a writer, speaker and communication specialist, Helen gradually worked through the unexpected change in her life.  Finding her own footing, she was motivated to help other women find their way out of the dark place of a divorce aftermath or the death of a husband, or even the breakup of a long term relationship.

If you are asking yourself, “What happened to my life?” or “What am I going to do now?”,  you will find plenty of articles and information to help you move forward on the SSW website.

My readers know that embracing change during life’s later years is a theme I like to include in my novels. After being widowed myself many years ago at the age of 43, I’ve experienced the journey. Grief is not linear nor is there a specific timeframe. Everyone is affected differently and yet there are certain aspects shared by all going through the process.

The most important lesson I learned is that it’s never too late to begin something new. As the years roll by , I realize more clearly that getting older offers us more opportunities to do follow dreams. Helen is a woman who has embraced the change in her life and started on an entirely new path.

SSW_Logo2_225I’m excited to be one of the contributing writers for Suddenly Single Woman and have an article on their website today giving a shout out for the great friendships so many women share.

Even if you aren’t single, this website offers all sorts of great information and ideas, pop on over and explore it for yourself. See you there!

Suddenly Single Woman also has a  Facebook page where Helen is looking forward to welcoming you and anyone you can think of who might be looking for this kind of support and incentive to move forward with their life.

Have you found yourself suddenly in a situation that requires a change in the dynamics of your life? Share your story with us!

 

 

A warm welcome to Bonnie Trachtenberg

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Today I’m delighted to have author Bonnie Trachtenberg as a guest. We’ve become friends through our connections with the awe-mazing WoMen’s Literary Cafe and also the fabulous Love A Happy Ending, both of which are sites you should definitely visit as a writer or a reader.

 Here’s an idea of the type of woman she is. If you were having a bad day and wanted to call a truly reliable friend who would listen to you, give you good advice, and make you laugh … no matter what …then you would call Bonnie. She just has that way about her.

To quote from her website:

“Bonnie Trachtenberg graduated from New York University with a major in Film and Television Production. She promptly found a job on a B movie you never heard of. Four days later she retired from her film career after working the craft service truck and throwing her back out while attempting to lift a man-sized coffee urn.

Realizing she was meant to be a writer, Bonnie worked 4,749 crappy jobs (give or take) on two coasts before being published in a national magazine.”

See what I mean? She is hilarious! She went on from that not-so-illustrious beginning to write seven  children’s book adaptations, countless magazine and newspaper articles, and recently published her  award-winning novel Wedlocked.  All of her contact information can be found below and when you have finished reading her novel, be sure to let her know how much you enjoyed it. That kind of feedback means more to us writers than anything!

Before she shares some information with you, here’s just one of the many excellent reviews Wedlocked has received.  Oh, and by the way, you will laugh out loud when you read the story. I did!

“Wedlocked is a delight, filled with humor and heart. You’ll surely cheer as you follow Rebecca Ross’s trials and triumphs as she navigates her way to finding her true self—and true love—at last.”
—Francine LaSala, author of Rita Hayworth’s Shoes

Take it away, Bonnie!

7 Splendid Things You Should Know About Wedlocked: A Novel

by Bonnie Trachtenberg

  1. Wedlocked: A Novel is inspired by true events. In 1999, I had a brief, disastrous marriage, the events of which were so bizarre I knew they had to be turned into a book. Wedlocked, my debut novel, is the result. As difficult as that time in my life was, I was able to transform the unfortunate episode into an entertaining romantic comedy—my way of turning lemons in lemonade!
  2. The most unbelievable scenes in the book were not out of my imagination, they were taken from actual incidents. When I later conveyed the goings-on of my honeymoon to friends and family, I got used to seeing wide eyes and dropped jaws—another clue that convinced me the story lent itself to literature.
  3. Wedlocked was an award-winning finalist in USA Book News’ “BEST BOOKS OF 2011” (Women’s Lit/Chick Lit). It also made it onto Amazon’s Bestseller lists for Literary Fiction and Literature.
  4. I appear, phone in, or Skype in to book clubs who read my book in order to answer questions and talk about the story—as well as the story behind the story. I find that people are fascinated with determining the truth from the fiction and I am happy to oblige.
  5. Wedlocked’s biggest selling tool is word of mouth. I find this a huge compliment as it means that I’ve done my job well in creating a book that people not only enjoy, but enthusiastically recommend to friends, family and in their posted book reviews.
  6. Wedlocked is available in hardcover, softcover and ebook. You can now Kindle or Nook a copy for only 99cents. This is a limited promotion designed to encourage readers all over the world to familiarize themselves with my work and hopefully become fans!
  7. Wedlocked is available for sale at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Booksamillion.com and many other channels.

BIO:

Bonnie Trachtenberg is the award-winning, bestselling author of Wedlocked: A Novel. She was senior writer and copy chief at Book-of-the-Month Club and has written seven children’s book adaptations. She has also written for three newspapers and penned countless magazine articles. Trachtenberg lives on Long Island with her husband, four cats and a dog. Her second novel will be released in early 2012.

You can learn more about Bonnie and read her blog at: http://www.BonnieTrachtenberg.com.

Find her on Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/BonnieTrachtenberg and http://www.Facebook.com/Wedlocked

Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/writebrainedny

Buy Wedlocked on Amazon:

http://ning.it/qC1y2V

Buy Wedlocked on Amazon UK

http://ning.it/sEStFV

Buy Wedlocked at Barnes and Noble

http://ning.it/pPRGvC

You know from my tagline, I always say everyone has a story. Some are more unbelievable than others and it takes a strong character to turn some of life’s personal disasters into entertaining tales. There isn’t always humour to be found in many experiences but whether the situations have been good or bad, there are always lessons to be learned. How do you feel your story is going? May the next chapter be the best yet!

Girlfriendology – what friendship is all about!

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Here’s another great website. Girlfriendology celebrates the meaningful friendships women share. Their posts are informative, entertaining, and important, supported by relevant links. The interaction of their thousands of followers speaks to the popularity of Girlfriendology. They have just begun a Wednesday page where women can send in photos of their girlfriend groups and I’m sharing the wonderful women of my “bridge club” this week. Rock on, ladies!

Read below or click here to go directly to the page.

Wordless Wednesday: Patricia’s Bridge Club / Girlfriend Group

Well, it’s not completely WORDLESS Wednesday, but it is a great reason to feature the beauty of girlfriends!
We’re started a new feature on Girlfriendology on Wednesdays to feature YOU and YOUR GIRLFRIENDS. Every Wednesday we’ll share a photo of a girlfriend group and tell you a little about them. We’re hoping it inspires you to spend some beautiful moments with your girlfriends and to share with Girlfriendology. (To submit your girlfriend photo, check out Wordless Wednesday/Girlfriendology.)

Author, PATRICIA SANDS shared this about her girlfriend group:

This is my “bridge club” during a one-week reunion on Vancouver Island last September. Friends for over 45 years! My recently published novel, The Bridge Club, is based on this amazing friendship that has never faltered. Friends forever is our motto.

Here’s what Amazon has to say about her friendship novel:

Where can you find a story about friendship, laughter and the good things in life that also touches on alcoholism, infidelity, porn addiction, terminal illness and grief? For most women, it’s often within their own circle of friends. Patricia Sands reminds us of the complexities of women’s friendships in The Bridge Club, a moving tale of eight women whose lives intersect once a month initially to play the game of bridge. What began as one night turns into four decades that span the segments of a woman’s journey from youthful optimism to embracing the challenges and opportunities presented in life’s later years.
For more than forty years, the mantra of these women has been “one for all and all for one.” Beginning their monthly soiree in the psychedelic Sixties, unpredicted twists of fate weave through the good times and strong friendship they share as the years pass. The constant from one decade to the next is loyal and nonjudgmental support, even when agreeing to disagree is the final solution. From the exhilarating cultural changes of their early times together through the “zoomer” years, their connection never falters. As they celebrate turning sixty at a group birthday weekend, each woman recalls a time in her life when the Bridge Club came to the rescue. After tossing around ideas mixed with a generous helping of common sense and a large dose of laughter they decide to refer to that time as their “SOS”. Eight chapters document each one’s story.
Everything is put into perspective and the strength of their friendship is tested when one of these women faces a life-altering decision. Her choice profoundly affects all of the group, pushing the limits of their beliefs and values. The unique alliance they share is confronted with an unimaginable crisis.

Based loosely on her own bridge club, Sands weaves the reader through a maze of life’s inevitable scenarios as the club bears the death of a member’s spouse, one woman’s meeting with her biological mother, the inevitable marital and health issues, and another’s final chance at freedom from the painful addiction to alcohol through rehab.

Although she has taken liberties with the actual events and it is truly a work of fiction, most issues faced by the characters in the book were experienced in her own bridge club. The bottom line of the story is a testament to friendship and hope.

Let’s begin 2011 by answering some questions

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Ok – the decorations have all been carefully put away for another year. The suitcases have been unpacked. The last of the shortbread has mysteriously vanished. It was a wonderful holiday season and now it’s time to get back to business.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE READERS WHO TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE TO ME. I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW REWARDING IT IS AND HOW MUCH I VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK AND YOUR STORIES ABOUT YOUR OWN GROUP OF FRIENDS.

I’ve decided the first challenge I’m going to tackle in 2011, from a very long list, is to answer some of the questions I’m receiving from readers about different characters in The Bridge Club. Today let’s talk about Cass!

Yes, her character in real life did in fact live on a sailboat on the other side of the Atlantic for eight years with the man in her life at that time. Her experience was very much as described in the novel and she and I spent many long hours talking and reminiscing as I developed the chapter. She did indeed make tapes and send them to us from time to time which we then returned to her. It was a fantastic way to stay connected and of course long before the days of computers. If only  we had been able to Skype! The journey came to an end as described and she did meet her current employer a few years later when she worked as a cook on his yacht. Even though she made some very unconventional choices in her life, everything somehow worked out. Her relationship with her son is strong and he is a fine young man. To the rest of our group, in her real life the model for Cass really does exemplify the saying to “dance as if no one is watching”. She is proof that for some women, thinking outside the box is the way to go. It has certainly worked for her! If you have a dream, pursue it.