November has always been a hard month for me since my father died on November 18, 1951. I was seven. Five years later, almost to the day, I was raped and lost my virginity at age 12. For many years, I dreaded November as though bad things would happen again. Thanksgiving was off the table after my dad died, and when I was grown I started fasting on Thanksgiving, which my daughter does to this day. Then I discovered NaNoWriMo, and I use November as a month to focus on a novel project. I now practice a Daily Gratitude Journal which helps me every single day; I don't wait for one day a year to be grateful (which I always thought was the best part of Thanksgiving). I find the excess eating, the killing of turkeys, the focus on football not something I enjoy. But I do love it when families can get together, share a meal, strengthen their bonds, and express their gratitude.
A enjoyable post Betsy, which has prompted me to do a post on paperbagstories.substack.com in a few days about books I have recently re-read and three (very different) books I have bought during November already, the last of which I ordered an hour ago and await delivery ( so that will influence the timing of my post). It is a book you mentioned in passing - ‘All of us: Stories and Poems Along Route 17.’ It will be coming from America, but it caught my attention. I hope Thanksgiving and your son’s visit go well. 🐰
November is rough. The dark afternoons, the impending holiday madness. I'm glad for your voice in my inbox and delighted to know you are writing (So many words!!! YAY!) and always happy for reading recs. Have a wonderful time with your kiddo! (No matter how old they get, they are always kiddos -- my own will be here and I so relish their company and their ability to bend time just by existing -- they are toddlers/teens/and twenty-somethings with every breath.) xxoo
Always enjoy reading Spark but was especially touched looking at your Mom’s handwritten recipe and the special memories that dessert recipe holds in your life and your family members. In this time of everything on the internet, I find it so charming to look at people’s handwriting in any form. Although I lost my Dad in November many years ago, I also have two wonderful, loving younger sisters who were born in November, life is bittersweet!
I’m also reading Roman Stories and Let Us Descend, Jesmyn Ward. I hope you have a wonderful holiday filled with good food and lots of love! ❤️
I love this idea. I read somewhere that people come to a book event looking for an "experience." As you've pointed out the author reader for xx(too many) minutes or being interviewed then readin g(for too many minutes) is predictable. The reading with the three beautiful "Judy avatars" was the most commented on of all the evening's events. We did the same thing with Dian Greenwood's book at The Book Catapult in July. I think in this case there were five actors each reading from a particular chapter of her novel "About The Carleton Sisters." With my writing books, I've used the launches as mini-workshops with participants writing to an exercise from the book. I did that with the revised 2nd edition of A Writer's Book of Days and Wild Women, Wild Voices.
Great news about finishing this draft of your novel, Betsy. Congratulations. It's been a journey. Thanks for the piece about Cynthia Newberry Martin and her approach to book events and sharing with other authors at indie bookstores. Sorry I missed the La Playa event. Reading about the authors reading from each other's books reminded me of a long-ago photo taken at a book event with me and my dear friend Drusilla Campbell, which I guess I can't post in this note. I'll send it to you separately. Have a lovely Thanksgiving with family. Thanks always for another great issue of Spark.
Betsy, thank you for this wonderful review of the California 50-state-bookstore event. I'm so grateful to you for sharing your literary community and connecting us all. I loved our walks and talks. Huge congrats on getting to the end of your novel-in-progress. Hallelujah for the clarity this read-thru is giving you, and I love this: "It’s a mess but it’s a good mess." Happy Thanksgiving--enjoy your son's visit.
This is such a happy post for November- your book...your son...Jhumpa Lahiri’s book in Italian. I love her writing and am considering giving that a go. I’ve been a little stuck lately reading wise. I’ll blame it on November. My husband and I just got away for 3 days and that made e writhing feel lighter - it helped that it was sunny and warm.
I love the bookstore walks and talks. Great idea. I'll follow her journey on Facebook. And congratulations my friend--a first draft is always an accomplishment. See you in December. Have a wonderful holiday!
I might as well call the month of November "KALI," because it seems that each and every day has an entry for my new puppy: dog walking 2X daily, nail clip and filing, fall & winter sweaters (Amazon), new treat bag/poop bags (Amazon), package of new toys (Costco), shampoo & moisturizing lotion, new blanket for her dog cushion, pads for the floor (to catch the blood from her first heat, diarrhea medication to toughen up stools, assortment of treats, K-9 Training (10-week course), & Spay surgery. It's only a day prior to Thanksgiving, but I'm certain I can fill in the remaining days with Kali demands. Bark!
Congratulations on your draft! That is so wonderful. And I love the handwritten recipes from your mom. I have my mom’s recipe file and her favorite cookbook. I’m in the process of trying to organize it all (she died in October of 1997 so it’s been a slow, ongoing process) and I still use many of them, all stained from cooking ingredients. Aw, but the memories they evoke. Happy Thanksgiving even if postponed.
November has always been a hard month for me since my father died on November 18, 1951. I was seven. Five years later, almost to the day, I was raped and lost my virginity at age 12. For many years, I dreaded November as though bad things would happen again. Thanksgiving was off the table after my dad died, and when I was grown I started fasting on Thanksgiving, which my daughter does to this day. Then I discovered NaNoWriMo, and I use November as a month to focus on a novel project. I now practice a Daily Gratitude Journal which helps me every single day; I don't wait for one day a year to be grateful (which I always thought was the best part of Thanksgiving). I find the excess eating, the killing of turkeys, the focus on football not something I enjoy. But I do love it when families can get together, share a meal, strengthen their bonds, and express their gratitude.
686,000 words?! Wow, Betsy!!!!
I can never get enough of Jhumpa Lahiri's insightful stories. PS: Do you ever sleep?
A enjoyable post Betsy, which has prompted me to do a post on paperbagstories.substack.com in a few days about books I have recently re-read and three (very different) books I have bought during November already, the last of which I ordered an hour ago and await delivery ( so that will influence the timing of my post). It is a book you mentioned in passing - ‘All of us: Stories and Poems Along Route 17.’ It will be coming from America, but it caught my attention. I hope Thanksgiving and your son’s visit go well. 🐰
Congratulations on finishing the draft of your newest novel! I am so happy for you. Your tenacity is inspiring!
A 50-state, 50-bookstore dream sounds like a dream vacation.
I hear you about the sometimes gloomy feel of November, but I am SO excited that you will get to see your son. Enjoy every second.
Thank you so much for mentioning my book. The whales are everywhere!
November is rough. The dark afternoons, the impending holiday madness. I'm glad for your voice in my inbox and delighted to know you are writing (So many words!!! YAY!) and always happy for reading recs. Have a wonderful time with your kiddo! (No matter how old they get, they are always kiddos -- my own will be here and I so relish their company and their ability to bend time just by existing -- they are toddlers/teens/and twenty-somethings with every breath.) xxoo
Always enjoy reading Spark but was especially touched looking at your Mom’s handwritten recipe and the special memories that dessert recipe holds in your life and your family members. In this time of everything on the internet, I find it so charming to look at people’s handwriting in any form. Although I lost my Dad in November many years ago, I also have two wonderful, loving younger sisters who were born in November, life is bittersweet!
I’m also reading Roman Stories and Let Us Descend, Jesmyn Ward. I hope you have a wonderful holiday filled with good food and lots of love! ❤️
I love this idea. I read somewhere that people come to a book event looking for an "experience." As you've pointed out the author reader for xx(too many) minutes or being interviewed then readin g(for too many minutes) is predictable. The reading with the three beautiful "Judy avatars" was the most commented on of all the evening's events. We did the same thing with Dian Greenwood's book at The Book Catapult in July. I think in this case there were five actors each reading from a particular chapter of her novel "About The Carleton Sisters." With my writing books, I've used the launches as mini-workshops with participants writing to an exercise from the book. I did that with the revised 2nd edition of A Writer's Book of Days and Wild Women, Wild Voices.
Great news about finishing this draft of your novel, Betsy. Congratulations. It's been a journey. Thanks for the piece about Cynthia Newberry Martin and her approach to book events and sharing with other authors at indie bookstores. Sorry I missed the La Playa event. Reading about the authors reading from each other's books reminded me of a long-ago photo taken at a book event with me and my dear friend Drusilla Campbell, which I guess I can't post in this note. I'll send it to you separately. Have a lovely Thanksgiving with family. Thanks always for another great issue of Spark.
Betsy, thank you for this wonderful review of the California 50-state-bookstore event. I'm so grateful to you for sharing your literary community and connecting us all. I loved our walks and talks. Huge congrats on getting to the end of your novel-in-progress. Hallelujah for the clarity this read-thru is giving you, and I love this: "It’s a mess but it’s a good mess." Happy Thanksgiving--enjoy your son's visit.
This is such a happy post for November- your book...your son...Jhumpa Lahiri’s book in Italian. I love her writing and am considering giving that a go. I’ve been a little stuck lately reading wise. I’ll blame it on November. My husband and I just got away for 3 days and that made e writhing feel lighter - it helped that it was sunny and warm.
Cheers to your week with family.
I love the bookstore walks and talks. Great idea. I'll follow her journey on Facebook. And congratulations my friend--a first draft is always an accomplishment. See you in December. Have a wonderful holiday!
I might as well call the month of November "KALI," because it seems that each and every day has an entry for my new puppy: dog walking 2X daily, nail clip and filing, fall & winter sweaters (Amazon), new treat bag/poop bags (Amazon), package of new toys (Costco), shampoo & moisturizing lotion, new blanket for her dog cushion, pads for the floor (to catch the blood from her first heat, diarrhea medication to toughen up stools, assortment of treats, K-9 Training (10-week course), & Spay surgery. It's only a day prior to Thanksgiving, but I'm certain I can fill in the remaining days with Kali demands. Bark!
Congratulations on your draft! That is so wonderful. And I love the handwritten recipes from your mom. I have my mom’s recipe file and her favorite cookbook. I’m in the process of trying to organize it all (she died in October of 1997 so it’s been a slow, ongoing process) and I still use many of them, all stained from cooking ingredients. Aw, but the memories they evoke. Happy Thanksgiving even if postponed.