Book Talks, Blogs, & Student Journalists

BOOK TALKS UPDATE I’ve had three book talks in libraries and speaking venues in recent weeks and all went really well. One was in my current hometown area and one was back in the hometown where I grew up and the other was in northern Illinois at my brother’s storytelling venue with another author of 13 (!) books. Right at about 40 people showed up between the three and it was good to have a chance to talk with people about it all. Thanks so much to those who made it a point to come and those special experiences with me. BLOG TO LEARN PERSPECTIVE Ever need creative writing breaks? I do. This blog was my effort to give myself a place to practice writing and share some thoughts with clarity. In the journalism classes I teach, one of my assignments is for my students to create and fortify a blog during the semester. Why would I have them do this in a journalism class? I noticed...

I Suggest Joining a Band

Join a band. Do it. Make it happen. Find some friends and get rolling. Don’t overthink it, darn it. Make it happen. It’s so much fun. I grew up playing music as part of a professional family band – as in 9-year-old drumming for full stage productions. It was a time in my life when my family was a bunch of skill practicing fools. Hours a day on instruments and development of various other abilities. I had drum lessons and organ lessons. I taught myself to play piano in college by sneaking into the school auditorium in the dark and fighting my way into a respectable relationship with bass clef day after day for a year or two. I played trumpet in my school bands. I sang in choir. I woke up in the night on a regular basis to my brother playing improvisational piano when he came home from nights out with friends or a date. Creativity was never stifled and always championed...

Book signing & numbers

Just checked Amazon best seller numbers having not worried about doing it at all since the last post I made here. I’m up in all three categories which was really gratifying to see. I’m up a couple thousand in rank in two categories (women and gender studies) and up about 13,000 in a third category (parenting). I’m happy about that. I have an upcoming book signing Sunday, May 5th 2-3p in the cafe at the Normal Public Library in Normal, IL. We’ll talk about my book, the process of writing, and my experience putting it out there. Plus, I’ll answer any questions to hopefully help others make progress on their own writing and personal storytelling efforts. One fascinating thing about this book endeavor is how it works. Book publishing reminds me of my broadcast news media life. It’s a subject few know from the inside, but so many of us are deeply impacted...

Series: 10 Author Questions

I have so much to share. I want to offer insight into my path toward writing a book, my own process of getting it down on paper and out there, and progress since I put it out. There have been some great developments so far and it's only just begun. Before I get to that in upcoming posts, however, I want to share a list of 10 questions I'll take on in individual upcoming posts. I've made note of these questions, because this is what I find I'm being asked often about writing itself so far. I want to offer a supportive nudge to others considering their own project. As for book content questions - that's another series ahead. I've touched on some of it in prior posts. Here is the rundown of my upcoming blog post series: 1- What is my big picture vision for this book project? 2- Why bother writing a book at this time? Is it passe? 3- Why bother writing a book and taking this on when you...

Amazon Book Sales Ranking

Wow Wow Wow… I got a call out of the blue yesterday. It was surprising and encouraging! I’ve had a hunch my story could connect with others. I’ve known I wasn’t the only one on the kind of path I’ve walked with ample learning facing things not entirely unlike what I’ve experienced finding ways to overcome and persevere one day at a time. I’m so happy people are finding it, so it can offer some sort of comfort, connection, and reassurance to them. My book is called, 9 Word Rethink To Get On With Life. I hadn’t been updated on how my book was doing and I haven’t been checking. It went out into the book selling marketplace November 8, 2018. I’m new to this and have entered the entire experience with a curiosity about how it all worked, willingness to learn, and enthusiasm to enjoy it. This woman is working with me to determine...

Yay! Upcoming Book Signing!

I’m happy to share that the Normal Public Library is hosting my first book signing May 5th at 2p. Books will be available. I’ll talk about the book, the process, and we’ll read some from it. I want to share this experience with others who have their own stories to tell. Please join me! Thanks to John Fischer at the Normal Public Library in Normal, IL for making this happen. Here is a link to all of the information!