I'm so pleased that Susan Weidener invited me to participate in this blog hop and was so generous in her praise of my memoir, Leaving the Hall Light On. I'm now paying it forward by recommending a few traditionally and independently published books for your summer reading enjoyment. Please include some of your favorite reads in the comments below. Adventures in Mother-Sitting by Doreen Cox. In this love story Author Doreen Cox shares her experience as a "care bear" during the last three years of her mother's life and how she learned to live with her mother's slow progression from a viable, interesting, lovable, and happy woman to a woman overcome by dementia unable to handle even her most basic bodily needs. And Doreen doesn't shirk away from those details. She repeatedly quotes her mother's mantra: "You just do what you have to do." Doreen gave up her as a career group counselor at an alternative school for at-risk and SED high school students to care for her mother, and she never … [Read more...]
I’m so proud to know Doreen Cox, loving caregiver
I first met Doreen in a women's memoir group on LinkedIn. We got to chatting and then moved on to reading each other's books and reviewing them. I was so intrigued with Doreen's story about caring for her mother - the pure love mother and daughter had for each other - that I wanted to get to know Doreen better. I found that not only did she give undivided love to her mother she gives it to all of the people in her life. I have been a recipient. No day goes by when I don't hear from Doreen either on Facebook, Twitter, a comment on my blog, or an email. I am indeed blessed to know her. Please read about her journey in writing her first book and how she got it published. I can relate since my memoir was culled from years of journaling as well. A Cathartic Journey By Doreen Cox Throughout the three years of my Care Bear experience, I scribbled in a journal at night in order to stave off despair, to keep my sanity; to cut loose the tears that had been bottled up inside while I … [Read more...]
Introducing my guests
For a change of pace I'm going to devote the next three weeks to the voices of other wonderful and experienced writers and publishers. I've asked eight people whom I've either met personally or online to tell you about their writing, publishing, and marketing experiences. I feel so fortunate that they have agreed to be my guests here on Choices. I hope you will keep coming back for more and more. You'll find the information interesting and very helpful to your writing lives. Here's my guest lineup in order of appearance: Sharon Lippincott November 26 Sharon is the author of The Heart and Craft of Lifestory Writing, knows she's been successful. Her insightful questions and observations have challenged people in many areas for decades. Today they are primarily aimed at students in her lifestory and creative writing classes along with readers of her blog, forum posts, book reviews, and other publications. Kathleen Pooler November 29 Kathy is a … [Read more...]
The Look Challenge
Linda Hoye, author of Two Hearts, invited me to take part in The Look Challenge for writers. According to Linda, The premise is simple: find a passage in your manuscript or book that contains the word look, post it on your blog, and tag five other blogging writers to do the same. Seems to me like a great way to introduce readers to other writers, so I'm all in. And I'm all in too. Here is a one of the poems included in my memoir Leaving the Hall Light On it even has the right title for this challenge. The Look (inspired by the movie Revolutionary Road) She looked toward him from the counter and offered him a glass of orange juice freshly squeezed. She was fully dressed in blouse and skirt and little wedgie shoes, Her makeup was perfect. Her long blonde hair just so. She then invited him to sit down at the table. Scrambled or fried eggs? she asked. He said whatever is easier, scrambled probably, and unbuttoning his suit jacket sat down, looking at her … [Read more...]
Book news – the launch is getting close
My friend Doreen Cox commented on my blog post about finding my new publisher, Dream of Things. She said, Besides the word, synchronous, I kept hearing a word and a phrase while reading your post: fortuitous (old publisher drops out of the race) and fresh air. Well I must agree with her. This has become a most fortuitous arrangement. Dream of Things is going to launch a paperback and eBook edition of Leaving the Hall Light On this month. And I must say it's definitely a new and improved version. Mike O'Mary who owns Dream of Things pumped a lot of fresh air into my book badly needed corrections, a book club discussion section, revised descriptions. And I can't wait for it to come out. I get to review the revised PDFs of the cover and book interior tomorrow after Mike's review, and then we're off and running. We are both very excited. So please stand by. I'll keep you posted on the launch date and purchasing options. … [Read more...]
Review of Adventures in Mother-Sitting by Doreen Cox
Adventures in Mother-Sitting by Doreen Cox is truly a love story. No, not a love story in the boy-girl romantic sense but a story about the love between a mother and a daughter. Author Doreen Cox shares her experience as a "care bear" during the last three years of her mother's life and how she learned to live with her mother's slow progression from a viable, interesting, lovable, and happy woman to a woman overcome by dementia unable to handle even her most basic bodily needs. And Ms. Cox doesn't shirk away from those details. She repeatedly quotes her mother's mantra: "You just do what you have to do." Ms. Cox starts out this story as her mother's daughter and friend and roommate. She gradually becomes her care bear and then her "mommy." Though her mother always could articulate a thank you and big toothless smile for everything Ms. Cox did for her, she became like a child thanking her mommy. Ms. Cox gave up her as a career group counselor at an alternative school for … [Read more...]
