Goodreads Winners Announced

Congratulations to the the 10 winners chosen from the 429 individuals entering the giveaway!

If you are one of the lucky individuals I will be sending you an autographed copy of Moth at theWindow within the next 3-5 days!

Please help me promote the book by posting your honest reviews of the book at Goodreads.com

The winners are:

1. Linda C. of Binghamton, NY
2. Melissa W. of Skokie, IL
3. Amanda B. of San Antonio, FL
4. Lynn K. of Winder, GA
5. Christina S. of Morris, IL
6. Marnie W. of Rapid City, SD
7. Melinda W. of Jackson, MI
8. Jennifer V. of Alhambra, CA
9. Karen K. of Stevens Point, WI
10. Brenda S. of Superior, MT

February Celebration

The amazingly productive writer, Joyce Carol Oates, author of "In the Region of Ice" and "Black Dahlia and White Rose: Stories" was once quoted as saying, “Getting the first draft finished is like pushing a peanut with your nose across a very dirty floor.”

Honestly that is how I felt trying to finish Moth almost a year ago!

But since we are nearing the end of February,  I am celebrating two things:  the 21^st birthday of my second son and the 2^nd anniversary of my day job in New York! 

Remember my Goodreads book giveaway ends this Saturday. 

Enter today! You could be the lucky winner of an autographed copy. 

The Faintest Pencil

Someone once said, "The faintest pencil mark is more powerful that the best memory" and that is certainly true from my experience. 

Several readers have asked about how G.W. Clayton’s poems were found in my mother’s home.  First, remember GWC was my mother's father, my maternal grandfather. Mom was a lover of writing, paper, and books. And, she saved everything.  Some of the poems were scribbled on scraps of paper while others were transcribed into a hardbound poetry journal for Jean.

Remember the Goodreads giveaway ends on Februrary 28^th.  There is still time to enter to win a copy of Moth!

http://www.Goodreads.com

Broderie Perse

The rose spiral broderie perse-style art quilt is almost complete. 

I created it to reflect my feelings for the poem "Acquiescence" on page 32 of Moth at the Window. 

GWC wrote Acquiescence in 1927 shortly after his baby son, Mason, died.  If you have had a chance to read the poem you will sense the grief of his loss. It is a wonderful and yet heartbreaking poem. 

The Parting Glass and Broderie Perse

I am charmed by the words of The Parting Glass an Irish tune that I heard on the radio yesterday performed by the High Kings, complete with bagpipes.

The final phrase is “Then fill to me the parting glass, and drink to health what e'er befalls, good night and joy be with you all”. 

I was enchanted by this phrase and carried it with me most of the day. 

What a wonderful sentiment. You might want to listen to it @ youtube.com  The Wallin' Jennys also have a version you might consider listening to if you prefer female vocals.

Of course yesterday was a snow day for most of us in the Northeast especially after the Governor closed the highways. I delighted in spending the day stitching fabric. I want to create an art series inspired by the poems in Moth at the Window.

The work in progress below reflecting the poems Acquiescence (p. 32) and Longing (p. 101). The technique is broderie perse which in French means Persian embroidery.  Motifs are cut from one fabric and stitched onto another. Additional images will be added to the blog as this work progresses.

Initial stage

Next stage 

Writing for Life

Who doesn’t want to improve something or change something in their own life? Have any of you read “Writing Your Way to Happiness” the NY Times column by Tara Parker Pope? Here is a link http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/19/writing-your-way-to-happiness/?_r=0 

The article indicates that writing, and then rewriting your own story can lead to behavioral changes and improve happiness. Ms. Parker-Pope reviews a few studies where college students who kept journals and wrote daily about their thoughts and feelings were better able to cope with the transition to and stresses of college.

We each have a personal narrative. That narrative not only shapes our view of ourselves, but also shapes our view of the world. It seems that by writing and then editing our stories we can change our perceptions of ourselves and remove obstacles to a better life. 

An Excerpt from Moth at the Window

This is one of my favorite poems to read at book events.  Enjoy!