Time is a precious commodity of which there never seems to be enough. There are seldom nights I fall into bed (the best feeling !) that I don’t wish there had been a few more hours in my day. I always see this as a positive though, that my day was so good I want more of it, even if I didn’t have time to accomplish everything. I feed off the challenges and opportunities each daybreak presents.
Since serious writing became a part of my life five years ago, the distribution of time in my day has changed dramatically. Never in my wildest imagination had I any idea of the demands as one steps, tentatively or boldly, into the world of writing and publishing. When I think of it now I always envision a Pandora’s jar (often mistranslated, apparently, as a box) kind of scenario, opened out of curiosity with a seemingly never-ending release of everything I didn’t know about what I now need to do. In Pandora’s case it was evil spilling out. In mine it’s all the rest of the “stuff” that becomes part of a writers’ world if I so choose. I’m not a good enough blogger, nor do I have the t i m e to list it all here. Read Patricia Caviglia’s fabulous blog to learn in detail about everything that came tumbling out. She gets it. She doesn’t miss a detail and in the series of her posts offers truly helpful information to writers beginning their journey who have yet to open that jar. In the end when Pandora put the lid on it, so to speak, Hope was left in the bottom. I believe Hope remains in mine too. It is an important aspect to life and drives much of what I do.
What sparked my thoughts on this today was a post I happened upon on one of my favourite websites, The Creative Penn. I have subscribed to Joanna Penn’s all-encompassing and informative site since I discovered it in my early days of writing. The content is incredibly helpful. This particular post engages its readers in offering really thoughtful feedback about the pros and cons of how a writer’s time is best spent. It’s a question that certainly occupies my mind a lot and the post and responses are well worth reading. I hope it offers you the same food for thought.
Time’s up! At least for this part of my day. Now I’ve got to find a few hours to write before I … and then … oh yes, and then … oops, I almost forgot about … but first I have to … I know you get the picture. Onward!
the power of friendship
2011 BookExpo America – what’s new and what’s next!
There’s a lot of book buzz in The Big Apple this week! The largest annual book fair in the United States is being held May 23 to 26 in New York City. Commonly referred to as BEA, BookExpo America is the book industry’s premier trade show in the USA. Locations sometimes vary but each spring booksellers from across the country are provided with an opportunity to preview publishers’ upcoming titles, as well as take part in education and information sessions, author breakfasts and lunches, and other special events. Networking rules! In addition, authors, editors, librarians, buyers for book retailers, and the literati in general get to immerse themselves in a three-day bookfest visiting booths and exhibits and socializing with colleagues. Somewhere in that mix and amongst thousands of other books, The Bridge Club is being exhibited on a bookshelf and in catalogues. It’s a thrill and an honour! Perhaps one of these years I’ll actually get to be there as well. It never hurts to dream!
Click here to read about all of the exciting events.
2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
Well, this was a great start to my day! I opened my e-mail to discover the following message from Indie Book Awards.
“Congratulations! Your book has been named a Finalist in the First Novel (over 80,000 words) category of the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Congratulations! Your achievement will be published at www.IndieBookAwards.com along with the other Finalists and Winners in the next few weeks. Also, we will be sending out a press release within the next month announcing the Grand Prize Winners and advising media and others where they can see a complete list of Winners and Finalists.
Additionally, The Bridge Club will be listed as a Finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards catalog which will be distributed at Book Expo America (“BEA”) in New York later this month to thousands of attendees including book buyers, library representatives, media, industry professionals, and others. Our intention is to promote the Winners and Finalists to as many people as possible.”
Being notified last month about The Bridge Club being a Finalist in the ForeWord 2010 Awards, this is more icing on the cake. I’m thrilled and delighted and wanted to share my good news! Thanks to all of you who continue to give me such great support and feedback for The Bridge Club. On we go!
Girlfriendology – what friendship is all about!
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.
