Brenda Baker

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  • Do We Have Room for One More?

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    Our world population has now reached a little over 7.6 billion people and continues to grow. If you would like to see just how quickly, check out this cool link. 

    Global Neighbors

    The majority of us will never meet. However, I like to consider all of us as neighbors. And like all good neighbors, we need to get along. A nice sentiment, but what does it mean exactly? Does it really mean that we need to get along with 7.6 billion other people. Well, it kind of does.

    The question is how can we be good neighbors with someone who lives on the other side of the planet? In my humblest of opinions, it comes down to respect for each other, for our shared space, and for Mother Earth.

    We’re all in this together. This being the lives in which we actively participate, including our mistakes and successes. This being our daily experiences from the mundane to the extraordinary. This being our fears and aspirations. This being our failed dreams, broken hearts, and the hope that inspires our future. 

    Things like job titles, salaries, etc, create divisions between us in terms of affluence and lifestyle. While these divisions can be seen and felt, they are superficial – sometimes hiding a fundamental truth. We are all human beings. No more, no less.

    A Single Humanity

    Our humanity, our struggles, and our desire to succeed make us equal. We need to remember that which unites us and forget the things we allow to divide us. This isn’t a new idea, and yet we continue to focus on our division, instead of our unity.

    We need to accept that regardless of our superficial differences, we are all equal participants in a global community. Reason enough to respect each other, don’t you think?

    Once we’re able to respect each other and our global neighbors, perhaps then, we can also accept that humanity is full of diversity, continuously shaping and painting our global mosaic in a multitude of beautiful colors. It’s time to celebrate that diversity. This is possible once mutual respect becomes intrinsic to our individual and global interactions.

    A Beautiful Hostess

    We interact globally within the shared space of our beautiful planet. Mother Earth, who acts much the same as a den mother, is the greatest hostess I know. She simultaneously provides for the basic and other needs of over 7 billion people. This designates her as the queen of multitasking.

    She provides us with food, shelter, water and medicine through her natural resources. Scientists are still discovering the wealth of our planet’s natural resources and their benefits. Needless to say, Mother Earth has thought of everything, making her a first-rate caregiver as well.

    Although Mother Earth is more than capable of providing for us, we need to cooperate with her. We need to stop being so egocentric, and realize that in addition to our shared humanity, we also have a shared responsibility.

    As global neighbors, we need to care for our “den mother” as she cares for us. A mutually beneficial relationship based on our respect for her and for each other. According to scientists, the Earth is 4.5 billion years old. So, I don’t think we need to worry about the permanence of our hostess, at least not for several more billion years. A more immediate concern would be her continued ability to provide for our well-being.

    Respecting everyone’s right to have their needs met, whereby citizenship is synonymous with global stewardship, we need to become more responsible about managing our planetary resources. There’s plenty to go around if we act responsibly. Problems arise when we take our abundant resources for granted, misuse and destroy them with no regard to the consequences. 

    The Way Forward

    We’ve destroyed half of Earth’s trees since we’ve been here. That’s just one example of our irresponsibility. Either one of us could compile an entire list of examples. The consequences impact me, you, and our neighbor on the other side of the planet.

    I’m not an environmental expert, but at the rate we’re abusing our resources, we will eventually destroy Mother Earth’s ability to provide for us. We need to act more responsibly as her guests. Something I think we can all agree on. Another point of unity.

    And I have faith in us. We exist in a constant state of change, learning as we go. Hopefully, we can learn from our mistakes. Time will let us know definitively. Until then, I’m optimistic. My cup is always half full.

    While as a species, we may still be experiencing growing pains, we will eventually learn to be good neighbors and stewards. It’s the only outcome that makes sense to me. We’re hard-wired to survive. We can’t survive without the resources so generously offered to us by our Earth Mother. So, we need to be better caretakers and learn how to share, insuring that there is always room for one more.

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

    I wrote this very early on as an aspiring writer. Reading it now, I realize that it may have actually inspired my debut poetry book. In my book, I attempt to break down the walls that divide us to explore our common humanity.

    I wrote this long before my first poem, so it just goes to show that we never know where our journey will take us.

    Until next time, be kind to yourself.

  • Covers, Reviews, and Marketing

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    I finally took the plunge and reached out to a very talented lady for help with my book cover. I mentioned her a few posts back. She can be found on  Facebook and Twitter.

    Anyways, thanks to Connie’s patience and expertise, I finally have a Kindle cover image and book jacket that I can be proud of. I was never quite happy with my own efforts. If you follow my blog, you may remember that I said I’d be begging Connie to design my next book cover. Well, I decided not to wait so long. You know what they say. There’s no time like the present.

    Which more or less brings me to my next point. You’ve probably read this elsewhere, but if you decide to self-publish, find yourself a professional cover designer – unless you absolutely know you’re doing. I figured I could get by on my own (I can hear Joe Cocker singing in my head) – only to end up unhappy with the final design. I tried tweaking the cover, and I was much happier with it. But I didn’t love it. I couldn’t stand by my book with pride. And now I can. See for yourself. 🙂

    And we all know how important book covers are. The first thing a potential reader sees is the cover. If they like the cover, there’s a much greater chance that a potential reader will take a closer look to see if it’s a book for them. We all have different tastes and reading preferences. And some stories will resonate with us more than others.

    We also need great quality of course – the same is true for any product. Otherwise, those much needed reviews may not be what we had hoped. Although I have yet to read a self-published book that didn’t impress me with its superb content.

    There’s something so honest in the stories written by self-published authors. The voices of their characters ring true. I don’t mind admitting that I’m hooked. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking traditionally published books. I just think indie authors deserve their day in the sun as well.

    Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to the subject of reviews for a quick second. I’ve probably mentioned time and time again by now how important reviews are and why, so I’ll spare you having to read the same thing again. But if you’re on Goodreads and you’re interested in honest reviews for your book(s), there’s a great group that you can check out. It hasn’t work very well for me (poetry is a harder sell), but I’ve seen books receive loads of review requests. It’s worth a try, right?

    Then there’s the required marketing of our self-published books. Unless you’re fortunate enough to have a fan base waiting to buy your books, it’s up to us to find those readers. Otherwise we run the risk of having our books lost somewhere in cyberspace. And is that what we envision for our books? I didn’t think so.

    The million dollar question is how do we find readers? Lord knows there’s an awful lot of them out there. And how do we get our books in front of the right readers? By that, I mean readers who enjoy the genre our books fit into. I certainly don’t want someone who dislikes poetry to read my book.

    For that reason, I don’t market my book to friends and family. I have no reason to believe they like poetry, so why try putting my book in front of a reluctant audience? I do have a sister whose support is relentless. I’m lucky to have her in my corner.

    I’ve also been fortunate enough to have a few authors on Twitter who continuously support my book by retweeting my posts. I’m more than happy to support other authors in the same manner, and I do.

    I should mention that I discovered a couple of online services to help me with my marketing efforts as well. Although I don’t have enough helpful information to share just yet. But I will as soon as I can.

    Like many of us, I’m learning as I go. So I’d appreciate any marketing tips that you might like to share with me and other writers/authors. I’d also love to read your opinion on book covers and reader reviews.

    Before I go, remember that I mentioned I could hear Joe Cocker singing? I thought I’d share the song with you. I love music as you know. Until next time, be kind to yourself.

    With a Little Help From My Friends

  • Ours, Yours and Mines – A Gripping Family Saga

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    As you may know, I’ve recently finished reading Ours, Yours and Mines by Carmel McMurdo Audsley. I knew that I’d enjoy this book as soon as I read the book description. And so I couldn’t wait to start reading.

    This beautifully written historical novel centers around the McMurdo family – spanning four generations between 1861 and 1913. During those years, you’ll fall in love with the members of this brave family. You’ll be there as the McMurdo children are born, grow up, and move out on their own. You’ll also be there as family members are lost and laid to rest. As the family mourns, so will you.

    The McMurdos are a mining family that live in the miners’ rows of Ayrshire, Scotland. The living conditions are miserable, but the McMurdo family never allows it to get the better of them. They face their many hardships with strength, love, courage, and dignity. I was humbled as I read how well they managed to cope despite those hardships.

    The story centers around Mary who married into the family. I grew to love Mary as I read the book. Mary embodies the strength, love, courage, and dignity that I just mentioned. I don’t want to include too many spoilers, but no woman should have to experience what Mary went through. I wanted to cry a number of times. Although I could hear Mary saying there’d be none of that. She was also a proud woman who didn’t like charity.

    There were also moments that made me laugh. There was one scene in particular in which I felt as though I was sharing a private joke with Mary. A feisty woman that Mary. There was another scene that gave me goosebumps. I’m wishing now that I had taken advantage of Kindle’s highlighting feature, so I could tell you more about that scene. I guess you’ll have to read the book to find out more. Hint, hint. Nudge, nudge, and a little wink. 😉

    The story is told using the Scottish dialect of the time. It gives the book a charm all its own. I’m from Newfoundland which counts English, Irish, Scottish, and French settlers as part of its colorful history, so some of the words were familiar to me. Depending on which part of Newfoundland you’re from, ‘dinner’ and ‘supper’ are still used in reference to meal times. I personally still use ‘ye’ as the plural form of ‘you’ on many occasions. Although in the book ‘ye’ is also used as a singular form of address. I love the fact that the author provides us a list of words with their modern equivalent at the end of the book. A nice reference tool.

    As I was nearing the end of the book, the battery in my Kindle died. I plugged it in and continued reading at the kitchen counter until supper was ready. While I was tidying up after supper, I looked at the orange light on my Kindle which was taunting me by then. I wanted to curl up on my couch and finish the book. Once again, I could hear Mary saying there’d be none of that. She’d never let something as trivial stop her. So when I was finished in the kitchen, I found an extension cord to plug in my Kindle next to the couch. My dear husband was more than a little amused. He knew how much I was enjoying the book. I had shared several tidbits as the story progressed.

    When I finished the book, I discovered that the remaining two books in the series are also available. Yay! I will be reading the rest of this series down the road. And when I do, it’ll feel as though I’m being reunited with old friends. I’m certain there will be lots of new friends as well.

    I should also mention Ours, Yours and Mines is based on the true story of the author’s ancestors. Mary is the author’s great-great-grandmother. Through her book, Carmel shares her family’s legacy. A legacy definitely worth reading.

    I’m including the link below from Amazon. It allows you to preview, purchase, or add the book to your wish list. Or you could add it to your TBR list on Goodreads. If you do end up reading this wonderful book, please feel free to come back and share your thoughts. Until next time, be kind to yourself.

  • Books, Books, and More Books

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    I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember. As a child, I’d visit my local library to borrow the maximum number of books for my age. On one of those visits, I noticed a woman checking out her own pile of books. I was so jealous because she could borrow more than me. And I’ve never quite forgotten that blatant injustice of my youth.

    Then as a teenager, I continued to read pretty much anything I could get my hands on. I’d sometimes read into the early morning hours and fall asleep holding my book. I guess you could say that books were my refuge. Books also allowed me to travel beyond my own reality. Thanks to books, I could travel the worlds of so many different people through time and space. The possibilities were endless.

    So, I treasured each and every book that I owned. Books were my prized possessions. I also had a bookshelf near my bed to keep them close. Their spines gave me comfort during those times when I needed it.

    All this came to an abrupt halt when I started university. There just wasn’t any time left to read for the pleasure of it.  I had Angie who needed my attention. And when I wasn’t tending to my beautiful daughter, I had textbooks to read, notes to study, and papers to write. The only novels I read were for my French literature courses.

    By the time I finished university, I had fallen out of reading. I still read on occasion, but nothing like my days as a child or teenager. It didn’t even register that I had given it up. Life went on. And life was busy.

    Then everything changed a few months ago when I created my Goodreads account. I was suddenly surrounded by books again – albeit virtual books. I was in cyber heaven. I could explore the world of books to my heart’s content. Since creating my account, I’ve added 11 books to my TBR list. A list that’s growing faster than my time to read.

    Right now, I’m mostly adding books by other indie authors. But I do intend to start adding books by some of my favorite traditionally published authors as well. I’ve already added A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

    I started adding self-published books by way of support for my fellow indie authors. When I started actually reading, I was blown by their work. I just finished a book that kept me enthralled from beginning to end. Imagine my delight when I discovered that it was part of a trilogy! I will also be reading the other books in the series as you probably guessed. Although I want to finish another book that I’ve started and a couple more by other indie authors first. There aren’t enough hours in the day, wouldn’t you agree?

    In reference to the book that I just completed, I wrote my very first Amazon review. It can be difficult for indie authors to secure reviews, so I wanted to show my support through words. As I go forward, I’m hoping to write a review for all or most of the self-published books that I read. Why not?

    After I wrote my review, it occurred to me that I could also use my blog to support other indie authors. Again, why not? So starting next week, I’ll be adding a book review category to my blog. Each book review will feature a self-published book from my Goodreads shelf.

    I still have a physical bookshelf by the way, but I rarely buy paperback or hard copies anymore. The bookshelf in my living room holds some of my favorite books from years gone by and part of my mother-in-law’s collection. She passed away some years ago, but her books will always have a home here. Mrs. Baker owned a collection of books from many different genres. Her collection is based on what were her favorite authors.

    I don’t really have a preferred genre either, so my reviews will feature a wide variety of books. And because I love my Kindle, it stands to reason that I mostly buy Kindle editions these days.

    Speaking of Kindle, did you know that you can now borrow Kindle books from many public libraries? I didn’t until recently. Kind of cool if you ask me. I suspect it’s a trend that will continue to grow as digital books gain in popularity. That said, I don’t think hard copies will ever go out of style.

    Now back to the point of this post. As previously mentioned, I’m adding a book review category to my blog, so next week’s post will feature Ours, Yours, and Mines by Carmel McMurdo Audsley. So I hope you’ll stay tuned!

    Until next time, be kind to yourself.

     

  • Book Covers and Amazon Keywords

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    I was never quite happy with my book cover, but I did try to make peace with it. However – knowing full well that a book is still judged by its cover, I finally decided to see if I could actually improve it. I started with the subtitle by shortening it as you can see below. Then I played around with the fonts until I found what I believed worked much better. I’m a lot happier with this new look. I only wish that I had done it sooner.

    I created my cover using Canva which some of you may already be familiar with. For a small subscription price, you can even upload your own fonts to the site. I was happy with the fonts offered for free, so I felt no need to upgrade. But because I’m curious by nature, I did find a site that offers some really nice fonts. There’s loads more available online.

    While I am happy with my new cover, this will most likely be the last cover that I do myself. Since publishing my book, I’ve met a very talented lady who designs book covers among the list of other services that she offers. She’s also an accomplished indie author who has published several books. I’m including a link to her new Facebook page if you would like to contact her: https://www.facebook.com/busybeepublication. Connie can also be contacted through Twitter.

    When I originally saw Connie’s work, I was mind blown. Her covers look so professional and can easily hold a candle to any book cover out there. In my opinion, she doesn’t charge near enough for her services. I’ll be begging her to create my next cover. I’ll also be enlisting Connie’s editing and formatting services at some point.

    And in case you’re looking for a group to join, Connie has created a fantastic facebook group for indie authors. The group’s members are always helpful and supportive of each other – making it a great place to connect with other indie authors.

    Going back to my book cover for a second, I noticed that after I updated it in KDP, the new cover was showing up on amazon for the Kindle edition as it should. However it wasn’t showing up for the paperback edition. So I waited and waited. And when I could wait no longer, I contacted KDP support. They’re now looking into it for me. I’m hoping that with their help, the problem will be resolved. And sooner rather than later would be wonderful.

    Amazon Keywords

    Switching gears all together (and you’ll notice I’ve added a little subheading for SEO purposes), I came across a couple of great videos this week that talk about amazon keywords. And as indie authors know, amazon key words are vital in getting our books in front of the right audience. I have to confess that I’m still learning how to properly implement amazon keywords myself. Although thanks to these videos, I’ve already improved the keywords for my book once. I’ll improve them again as I figure out what works and what doesn’t. I’m sharing the links in case you’d like to check them out. Each video is short, sweet, and to the point.

    Amazon Keywords – Part 1

    Amazon Keywords – Part 2

    After watching these videos, I followed Dale’s instructions to improve my own keywords. The process was quick and easy. In so doing, I realized that my initial keywords were almost completely ineffective – in that my keywords didn’t reflect how people search for books. This meant that my book wasn’t likely to show up in any search on amazon whatsoever, or it might show up in front of the wrong audience. Dale mentions this in his first video.

    I’m hoping the new keywords will improve my book’s visibility in front of my target audience. Only time will tell of course. And if you have any suggestions on how to improve amazon keywords for our books, please let us know.

    Well, that’s it for this week. I’d like to finish up by sharing this quote that I wrote a couple years back.

     

    Until next time, be kind to yourself.

     

  • Coffee, Books, and Poetry

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    In this week’s post I’ve decided to include a fun little poem about coffee. I once joked with my husband that I’d write a poem about my favorite beverage some day. Then I got to thinking why not. I’m also including a site recommendation for indie authors and anyone who loves to read.

    An Ode To Coffee

    Sweet coffee of mine!
    You brighten my days
    with your zesty aroma –
    your pungent zing
    teasing my tongue.
    And without you to fill my cup,
    I’d still be in bed
    dreaming of follies and fools.
    But you’ve never let me down.
    My mind made nimble
    by your dark roasted nectar –
    my feet made light.
    The pep back in my step
    as I shake off the night.

    ©Brenda Baker 2018

    Readers Review Room – The Site for You

    Thanks to the tweet by a fellow indie author a couple weeks back, I discovered a fantastic site for authors and readers alike. And so I wanted to share my discovery with you.

    For all the readers out there, if you love to read and own an e-reader (the site promotes Kindle editions), you’ll discover some great books by a variety of talented indie authors from the site’s author page. If you would love the opportunity to read those same books for free, you can join the amazing readers review team on site and have the books delivered straight to your digital device.

    For indie authors, if you’re looking for a great site to list your book, I highly recommend Readers Review Room. After submitting your book for consideration, the RRR team will get back to you within a couple days to let you if your book has been accepted.

    When accepted, the RRR team will request whatever information is needed for your personal author page. You can also submit promotional images and videos that you would like added to your page. The RRR team will take care of the rest. It’s that easy!

    As well, the site has an aforementioned review team that loves to read, and if a reviewer decides to read your book, he or she will be kind enough to provide a review. I should mention that because it’s up to the reviewers which books they want to read, reviews aren’t guaranteed.

    I haven’t received any reviews yet, but I love knowing that my book is in front of a group people who, should they ever decide to read it, will provide me with a review. Because as you know, reviews help potential readers decide whether or not to buy our books. Reviews matter. So my fingers and toes are crossed.

    I’m including a link to Readers Review Review homepage and to my RRR author page.

    Readers Review Room

    My Shameless Book Promotion

    That’s it for this week’s post. Until next time, be kind to yourself.

  • Playing With the Angels

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    When you listen with your heart, you can hear the angels sing. You can hear them in the rustle of the leaves – or in the early morning song of a sparrow, announcing a new day and new beginnings…

    You came into this world surrounded by the love of your family, Roy. And you were so young when the angels called your name.

    Heaven is your eternal playground now, filling it with the everlasting music of your laughter. A song of joy and celebration as you play with the angels. Your young spirit forevermore in a state of wonder and innocence – eyes open in amazement, gazing at the beauty around you. 

    You see, every now and then, a beautiful spirit is born – too beautiful for this world. The angels saw this, and set you free.

    I’ll see you again someday, my brother. Together, you and I will sing and dance to the chorus of the angels. 

    We’ll take long walks at night and admire the stars. Each star, a brilliant reflection of our love for those we’ve left behind. And each star a reflection of their love for us, connecting each of us in the night sky – just as the stars connect us now.

    I remember how much you loved airplanes. Have you learned to sail the skies in a plane of your very own? You could take me for a ride someday. Together, we’ll sail heaven’s untold skies.

    Until then, Dad is with you. The angels have given you an eternity together. Side by side you journey, outplaying time and space. Reunited at last, you’ve found your way home.

    Heaven is your eternal playground now,
    filling it with the everlasting music of your laughter –
    a song of joy and celebration.
    And if I listen carefully,
    I can hear you in the rustle of the leaves.

    ©Brenda Baker 2018

    It was my brother’s birthday yesterday, so I wanted to remember him through these words of love. Roy would be forty-two now.

    After five daughters, my brother was born. You can imagine the joy and excitement that we all felt. I will never forget the day that Mom brought Roy home. A baby brother was definitely cause for celebration.

    In my tribute, I’ve included a photo of Roy from his kindergarten graduation. He never made it to grade one. But those we love are never gone from us, remaining forever in our hearts.

  • Rise and Shine!

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    It’s a September morning like any other – except on this September morning, I’m getting ready for classes. My first day as a university student. Angie is still asleep. I’m grateful that she usually sleeps until about seven. I still need time to gather my thoughts before waking her.

    Contemplating my reflection in the mirror, I’m determined to succeed in my academic studies. At twenty-two, I’m a bit late leaving the starting gate. My university status is that of “mature student”. Funny because right now – filled with trepidation and excitement, I don’t feel very mature.

    I feel like that little girl starting kindergarten many years ago.

    I guess you could say that I took some time off after high school. Much to my mother’s dismay, I was more interested in breaking the rules, counting calories, and testing my boundaries than my future. I had no idea what to do with my life, or in which direction to go. So, I stood at a crossroad, partying and getting into trouble instead.

    I wasted two years before realizing that I wanted to become a teacher. I wanted to work with teenagers to have a positive impact and make a difference. My troubled teens having taught me that being a teenager isn’t always easy…

    As I look forward to stepping on campus for the first time as an official student, I wonder – yet again – if I have what it takes. I’ve always done well in school, but what if this is different. While I’ve only been out of school for a few years, it feels like a lifetime ago.

    And so much has happened since I originally applied to my local university. Most importantly, I discovered that I was going to be a mom. Feeling vulnerable and completely unqualified to take on the responsibility of motherhood, I ran away to my mother’s house.

    I boarded a plane and flew to the comfort of my mother’s smile and homemade stew – my appetite having increased tenfold since becoming pregnant.

    Eventually, I moved back home and gave birth to my beautiful daughter. We just celebrated her first birthday less than a month ago. I can still see her covered in chocolate cake. It was my first attempt at baking, and it didn’t turn out quite as I had hoped, so we dug our hands in and learned what cake feels like between our fingers, on our faces, in our hair – you get the picture.

    My thoughts wandering back to the present, I reassure myself that I’m every bit as capable as all those other university students I’ve seen walking around campus, confident that they belonged. Would I belong there as well? Enough of that. There can be no room for self-doubt. I resigned that luxury on the day my daughter was born.

    Angie, my source of motivation and inspiration, is still sleeping in her bedroom. Almost time to wake her. She knows that Mommy’s going to school today. Although I’m not sure how well she grasps the concept. At one, her communication skills mostly center around her basic needs.

    I sneak a glance at my outfit. A cotton mustard yellow blouse with a pair of dark red paisley pants, also cotton. For a minute I wish that I could afford something more fashionable to wear. And though I have no idea what is fashionable, I know that I’m not. Ah well, this will have to do.

    I’ve never believed in wanting something that I can’t have, so I dismiss any notions of new clothes or fashion. I can barely afford food. Fortunately, I’m not a picky eater – leaving that to my daughter.

    My only criteria is that it be cheap. Kraft Dinner and Mr. Noodles fitting that criteria, take first place in my cupboard, once I’ve bought what Angie needs – which reminds me that I should stop at the supermarket after classes. We’re getting low on milk – Angie’s favorite drink beside water.

    Walking toward Angie’s bedroom, I notice the sun has broken through the clouds. It’s going to be another warm day. Time to wake my little bundle of energy and curiosity. Time for us to rise and shine.

    Smiling down on my daughter’s fragile form, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to have her in my life. She is the anchor that keeps me grounded. For my daughter, I can accomplish anything. I will succeed.

    Sensing my presence, she begins to stir – her big brown eyes fluttering in protest against the morning sun before finding mine. Good morning sunshine!

    ©2018 Brenda Baker

    This was originally shared on my first blog that I no longer use. I thought I’d share here as it ties in to an earlier post. A letter to My Younger Self

    Until next time, be kind to yourself.

  • Writing My Way

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    A dream was born.
    I was going to publish!
    And a book no less.
    But where to begin?

    Good question I thought.
    The hours spent on Google
    enough to make me weep.
    I didn’t sign up for this!

    At last, I was ready –
    or so I surmised.
    Using one online service,
    then another –

    only to start again.
    Third time’s a charm they say!
    So I dove right in
    and got back to work.

    More hours on my laptop
    jumping hurdles one by one.
    At last, it seemed
    my book was done.

    Ah – the joy!
    The hours worth their weight in gold.
    But then came the “look inside”.
    My baby a mess inside its pages!

    What to do next?
    I raised my arms,
    about to give up.
    The matter out of my hands.

    But it gnawed at my brain.
    My baby deserved the best.
    The hours spent on Google
    enough to make me weep.

    At last, I had an idea!
    The answer so simple.
    So I dove right in
    and got back to work.

    The hours worth their weight in gold –
    my baby was perfect.
    Ah – the joy!
    My dream complete, and I weep.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    As I’ve probably mentioned in an earlier post, my book looked as formatted on a Kindle, but I wasn’t happy with the “look inside” feature on amazon. At first, I was prepared to accept it – figuring there wasn’t much I could do about it. However, I’ve never been one to give up. So, I decided to see if it could actually be fixed. I’m happy to say that the “look inside” now looks great.

    To celebrate, I thought I’d share a fun and whimsical poem. Until next time, be kind to yourself.

    Finding Their Way Home – Kindle Edition

    Finding Their Way Home – Paperback

  • A Letter to My Younger Self

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    My Dearest Self,

    I know things are tough right now. You’ve somehow lost yourself inside a recurring nightmare. And you have no idea what the future has in store for you – not that you’ve given it much thought. But the time will come.

    Right now, you look at yourself in the mirror – only to see an endless list of imperfections. You’ve managed to starve yourself down to a mere eighty-six pounds, but you’re still not happy. Nothing or no one can convince you that you’re destroying yourself.

    I wish I could tell you that the pain will be gone soon. Unfortunately, it’s going take a few more years before you find your way – but you do get there. So have faith in yourself and the future.

    Because eventually, you do find the strength and courage to overcome your eating disorder. The road to recovery wasn’t easy. But you did it.

    And then, at the age of twenty-one, you begin the next chapter in your life – you start university! I know it seems like a  pipe dream right now. So on the first day of classes, no one will be more amazed than you.

    Life will also bless you with two beautiful daughters. They’re doing great by the way. You’re going to be so proud of them!

    Life will also bless you with a husband who still makes you feel special. You’ve been together for almost fifteen years now. Although it doesn’t feel that long.

    Your favorite bands are still AC/DC and Pink Floyd. I guess some things don’t change – which reminds me. Along the way, you’ll forget how much you love to write. But never fear, my dearest self. You’re going to remember one day, and end up publishing a book. I know, I’m just as surprised as you by that one. Go figure!

    It was a lot of work, and took countless hours to get there – including all the hurdles. But in the end it was worth the effort. It also represents your next giant leap of faith. You’ll have a few of those before now. I’m very grateful to say that each leap was successful.

    At some point, you do learn to trust yourself. And you learn to love yourself – although that takes a little longer. Your inner critic finally stopped shouting long enough to hear you. She still likes to hang out, but she’s a lot quieter these days – you’ll see.

    Well, I have to go now. You’re pretty busy these days. There’s always something that needs doing.

    With all my love,

    Your (somewhat) older self

    P.S. All those years in university were definitely worth it. You became a teacher!

     

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    I’ve always treated my eating disorder as a teenager like a dirty secret. A few years ago, I wrote a poem inspired by my struggle with anorexia. Although when I originally shared the poem, I wouldn’t admit that it was actually based on my own experience. I finally edited the poem, let go the shame – and ended up including it in my first poetry book.

    And just in case you might be interested, Finding Their Way Home is now available on goodreads. 🙂 I’m currently updating the Kindle edition to see if I can fix how the preview looks. However, the actual book looks as formatted.

    Until next time, be kind to yourself.