Archive | February 2015

Let Me Tell Your Story

“Finding Inner Strength” is the subtitle of my blog and a theme that underpins “These Foolish Things” and “At Last” (and probably a bunch of other stuff I’ll be writing).

I been through my fair share of crap (and then some), but I’m not big on talking about myself (Hell, I’m not even good at selfies). I’ll invent a character and give him/her dialogue and scenes that I’ve observed in my life. However, it takes a while to come up with a finished product.

And I have to find content to populate this blog.

Tell you what; if you’ve been through trying or traumatic circumstances and come out the other side, I want to talk to you. I want to use this space to tell survivors’ stories, to give hope and inspiration to others who may be experiencing what you have.

Email me at sthatcher.author@gmail.com if you want to tell your story. I will change names, if you want to remain anonymous. But, I’ll make your story a star.

And I’m including the next cartoon just because I’ve always loved it.

(crack Knuckles)

Feb9

Check out this lady:

She was Daisy Washburn Lovell, my great grandmother. I’m not the first author in my family. She published two books, “Glimpses of Early Wareham” and “Glad Tidings.” My Bible (Yes, I have one. No, it doesn’t burn my hand when I hold it) was a gift from her, personalized and inscribed with a poem she wrote. This is her author photo.
(by the way, I grabbed the picture from Sarah Sheppard’s (my cousin) Facebook timeline. Credit where it’s due)

Grandma achieved a goal I’m shooting for: books in the Library of Congress. Not too difficult, really. Just fill out an application and pay a fee.

That’s on the to do list this year.

Also on the list: use my knowledge of dealing with debt collectors to make an e-book and presentation to teach people what their rights are and how to deal with bad actors in the business.

2 signing events (REALLY sore about missing Deep in the Heart this past weekend. Looks like they had an excellent time). I AM signing at the LA Times Festival of Books in April. And working on getting back to Long Beach in June. On the list.

New laptop. On the list.

Complete at least a first draft of the next Liz Gardner (which, I found out today was Grandma Lovell s father’s first name. I probably used to know it, but I named Liz after the Massachusetts city of that name. There’s a giant chair there. I remember seeing it when we went from Vermont down to the Plymouth area)

This is the sort of thing that makes an impression on a little kid. From Vermont. (I still get stars truck seeing the Hollywood sign)

Speaking of Liz and Ty…

This year, they’re going to break through and find a much bigger audience. There is talk of some cross-promotional marketing groups out of the DITH event and I have been accepted to be included. Reach beyond the local group. It is time that all the sweat and energy I. Invested in creating them actually started paying off.

Things go well enough, I may talk to some of the authors in my age bracket and see if we can put together a “Hen Lit” (The more mature form of Chick Lit) signing. Maybe.

That’s just the first half of the year. Stay tuned.

Some Days, the Bear Eats You

Feb6

At some point in 2015, I was optimistic enough to sign up for Deep in The Heart 2015, a group author signing event in Austin, TX on February 7. 2015. It was far enough in the future that I figured I could get the money for a plane ticket and hotel, etc. in time because surely, I would have a REAL job shortly.

Didn’t happen.

A great friend from high school donated airline miles and I had a fund raiser to for this and to fix my car. The car got fixed. Hotel, ground transport, etc? Not so much. People were generous. They will be acknowledged and thanked by name in the next book.

My heart is heavy.

I am fighting other battles (of my own creation, so I can’t bitch). I don’t know if I’ve hit the bottom and I’m about to start rising or of I’ve hit bottom and I. Stuck.

I’m no angel. Against my better judgment, I’ve let fear drive the bus and I’ve done some stupid shit that I’m paying for now (literally). I was counting on timing and providence to help me make this weekend happen. For once, they didn’t.

Maybe for the best. I have the same two books that I had t the end of 2013. Maybe this is the Universe’s way (or God. I’m not sure what’s out there, but I know we’re not alone) of saying, “Look, Kid. You need more material before the publishing houses see you. What you have is good, you just need to show you have one in the chamber.” Someone somewhere said the best marketing tool for your last book is your next one.

Like I said, I’m no angel. Because I’ve screwed up in credit and financial matters (and according to my research, I am not alone), I’ve learned a lot of shot the hard way. But I’ve learned it, fought successfully because I’ve learned, and I’m putting together materials to reach others. Everybody deserves respect Md dignity until they prove otherwise.

So, no Austin this weekend. Dream deferred (any town who wants to be weird, I need to go there).

But not dead.