Skip to main content

An Introduction

Dear Reader,

Writing has been a part of my life from the moment I could form sentences. When I was in third grade, I had my first writing success when I won the puppet stage prize the teacher offered for the best essay. I haven't stopped writing since.

What do I write? I write short stories, poems, children's stories and a novel has been in the works forever. I have written manuals for various work projects. In high school I started a monthly newspaper for my small hometown. Together with some friends, we produced it monthly for two years. 

I have won (well, 2nd place) two short story contests, won a limerick contest and have been published in newspapers and local historical books. 

I have always written letters too, from the first thank you notes that my mother insisted I write to a dozen pen pals in different states across America and internationally to Australia, Denmark, Greece and Saudi Arabia. That brings me to the name of this blog. I brainstormed and agonized over what to call this new blog. I loved, "Ponderings and Wanderings"--taken. My husband suggested, "Random Thoughts", I knew that was taken. Every new idea that I came up with, I googled. Nothing was original. I thought back to when I was a pen pal. My usual sign off was, "As Always, Debbie". Now full circle, I am using it again.

Don't let me mislead you that writing is my livelihood. I worked nearly 8 years in insurance and 34 years for the small post office in the town I grew up in, the last 17 tears as Postmaster (note: master, never mistress).  I am now retired, and my other titles include Wife, mother, grammy and volunteer. I am now more seriously pursuing my dream title of published author. 

I am on a journey now, with my first published book, "A Fish in a Tree"--not to be confused with "Fish in a Tree"--I didn't google my title when I started, but my book could not have any other name anyway. Nothing else would do.


I think I will leave you with this for now, a little introduction about me. I'll be back! Until next time...


As Always,

Debbie






Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Well, it happened!

Dear Reader,   When I read "A Fish in a Tree" to kids, I often start out talking about fish--asking them to make fish faces and then asking where fish live. Sea or ocean is the most common answer, but I do get the rivers and lakes and ponds too. Some think of aquariums before I ask if they have ever been to one. I ask if anyone has ever had a pet fish and some have. After building that up, I then pull out the poster of my book and ask incrediously, "But did you ever see a fish in a tree?"  Well, at one reading, the inevitable happened as one boy told me he had a pet fish but it died. I said, "That's sad but it sometimes happens." He then continued, "My Dad flushed it down the toilet." Kids gasped and looked at him in disbelief. One asked, "Why did he do that?" My presentation had been derailed by a dead fish spiraling down the toilet. I was off guard but tried to bring them back to happier times and my story. I am sure some lit
Post a Comment
Read more

Another chapter in the journey

 Dear Reader,  For the next chapter in my journey, I decided to do some more research. I already knew that Connecticut Publishers and Authors Association highly recommended self-publishing for reasons that I previously stated. I did know a couple of people who had self-published, and I saw that many of the CAPA members did it repeatedly.  I decided to contact one of my friends who published a children's book. We met for coffee, and she spoke freely about her experience, the time, the money, basically all the blood, sweat and tears. I was encouraged and discouraged at the same time. At the end she said, "I will never, ever do it again." Ouch. Stabbing words that I didn't want to hear. Yet, I decided to keep researching. I noticed a children's book author who was selling locally and decided to contact her and ask her about her journey. She was quite willing to share her experiences. She was trying to promote this book as Covid was first upon us and that really slowe
Post a Comment
Read more

What I thought was finished....

Dear Reader, Last I wrote, I told you about my publicist. She was happy with my story just like my husband and other friends, but as we spoke, it seemed like a good idea to hire an editor just to make things the best they could be, after all, this would be my first published book. Let me mention that I have been on writer's retreats, I have attended many writing workshops, I have belonged to several writing groups where we critiqued each other's works and therefore I knew that you may think you are done, but someone else's eyes will point out things you didn't see. Sometimes the critiques are a little painful. You have presented your "masterpiece" that you have toiled over every word and in a few moments, your ego can be bruised. Critiquing is a great necessity, but it can be painful. I had never worked with an editor before and I braced myself for pain. First, I had to find an editor. It is awesome that with the help of the internet you can hire a publicist,
Post a Comment
Read more