Not the Traditional Thanksgiving Blog

It has almost become trite to remind everyone that you need to live and express thankfulness every day and not just at this time of the year.  As many do, I try, but to be honest, am only mildly successful.  I am also thankful for many of the same things as others:  a loving spouse, health, family, grandchildren etc. etc.  So I won’t drone on about all those things.

I want to express my thankfulness for all the things the writer’s life has brought me this year.  In my quest to market my book the old fashioned way I have and not relied on the “social media”.  In March I was honored to make a presentation at local independent bookstore Mystery to Me on Saint Patrick’s Day.  Following my presentation we shared Irish tea, cookies and a bit of Jameson with those attending.  Speaking on Saint Patrick’s Day about a historical fiction book on The Troubles was a special treat for me.

I attended the Oshkosh Irish Fest and had the joy of having an author friend from Madison drive to Oshkosh to support me and have lunch.  I met many at that event and one in particular has become very special.  I met a woman who is a fourth grade teacher.  She wondered if I would be interested in helping her teach writing narrative to her class.  I jumped at the opportunity and have learned first-hand the work it takes to teach.  We’ve taught classes on story turning small moments into a story, story characters, and plot development.

Our community started a low power radio station and needed volunteers to produce radio programs.  I developed two programs.  One is a live call-in interview show called Writing In Wisconsin.  I interview Wisconsin authors, publishers, musicians, composers and playwrights.  I also broadcast a Book Club on the Air and we discuss a different book each month.

I’ve also presented at the local senior center.  That presentation was recorded and replayed by the local public cable program.  I’ve spoken at the Public Library, the Rotary Club; a Pub in Columbus and in December will speak at the coffee shop.  I’ve also been the guest author for the Sun Prairie Literary Society book club.  I also spent an evening at a Waupaca B & B, the Crystal River Inn where I presented and shared an Irish meal with everyone.

The writing life is about so much more than writing.  The writing life offers the opportunity to meet a variety of people and lead to doors opening for new activities such as teaching fourth graders narrative. I love the writing life, it fulfills me.