Focus Pocus

Wish I could wave a magic wand and make my next post appear, but that's not going to happen. Just like everything in life nothing gets done until you sit down and do it. At the beginning of 2016, members of my critique group decided to share their writing goals. My goal was to post a memoir piece once a month on the subject of autism in our family and to bring it to the group for their review. It seemed like an attainable goal. I figured by the end of the year there would be 12 perfectly polished pieces I could combine into a book. Exciting, eh?

Focus pocus! Another deadline bumped me off my mark. Submissions were due for the 2016 Redwood Writers Club anthology. While considering the opportunity to see my words in print, I felt pangs of guilt because I would lose focus on my New Year's goal. How could I justify the delay?

Are you thinking what's the big deal? It's only a few weeks, a month? No. How about forever? I have seen my writing evaporate the second I stop thinking about it. Try to remember a dream after you wake up. The more time that elapses the harder it is.

On the other hand, I knew what a great opportunity this would be. I could work with an editor for free! Editors aren't cheap. It's also a nice feeling to be able to contribute to the club. The anthologies raise funds.

I'm happy to report my piece was accepted. Wonderful. I was not happy to see how much editing the story needed to produce it for a page. But, with great relief, I finished my second draft. I'm hoping there won't be much of a third. We'll see. Maybe I can rescue that fragment of my 2016 dream after all.

In other news, I also belong to our Napa Valley Writers Club and they just celebrated their four-year anniversary. Guess what? They are in the process of planning a maiden edition of their anthology. Should I submit? Of course. Focus Pocus!

New Poems Coming Soon

photo by Chelsea Roberson

My poetry class has been interesting. Sheila Bender is a great teacher, I highly recommend if you're looking. It is so easy online. You never have to be embarrassed when you read out loud because no one can see or hear you!

Sheila's prompts have been educational and fun. We are working on Persona poems right now, which I like because you get to say what you want and write through the eyes of someone or something else. There's one assignment and two weeks of class left. I've produced about 5 poems, some need more revising.

I was planning to post one for my birthday tomorrow, but it needs more work, and I'll have more time to fix it next week. I will post it for you to see. If I keep waking up at 4 a.m. with ideas, I might post it sooner!

The way the class works is we turn in two poems a week and one revision. At first, I was thinking this is too much work. Usually, I don't write poetry that fast, but you'd be surprised what help a deadline can be. Especially if you are paying $$ for the class.

I'm in the class with 3 other students and we critique each other's work too, all gals, all terrific poets. Small class, great teacher, win, win! More next week.

First Friday Fling

I recently went to an art show at Main Street Gallery in Lakeport. My friend, Elaine Lewis, the artist who illustrated my book cover for Water Over Time, invited me. She wanted me to bring a few books that I might sell. I was excited to see Elaine’s paintings and be part of the show. After pinning on a name tag and meeting two of the gallery’s organizers and a few of the artists, I sat down at a table to discuss my books. It was a lovely affair with live music and a wine tasting along with goodies to eat. I’m told they host these art and wine parties the first Friday of every month, called First Friday Fling.  

Elaine and I enjoyed hearing the positive feedback for both her paintings and my book cover. Hopefully you will have a chance to visit this gallery. There is something for everyone, watercolors, oils, pastels, pencil drawings, photography, and jewelry. Also on display: turned wood and metal sculpture. Very cool. And don’t forget to admire my books! They will be featured along with Elaine’s art through the month of January.

Elaine, Barbara, and Elaine's art



Many attendees

Books!

Books!

"Water Over Time"

Hello, my adoring fans! What's the point of having a blog if you can't do a little boasting now and then. My books are here! It was such a kick to open the box and find them, all shiny and new. I spent two years off and on writing the poems and stories, some of that time I didn’t realize I was writing a book. Below is the description I wrote for Amazon.com.

When Barbara Toboni takes a trip back to Guam in 2010, she finds what remains of the family’s first home abandoned and barely visible, ravaged by many years of storms. The house becomes a symbol for the author inspiring her to write poetry and short prose about her life on the island spanning twelve years. Memories are clear and portray Barbara’s coming of age as she grows from pre-teen to young woman.

I hope some of you will order the book from Amazon, or if you live in Napa, stop by, stop me on the street, or stop me while I shop, and I will sell you a copy out of the back of my car. I plan to take a few copies to a local bookstore and perhaps Jessel Gallery would be interested, as they do have my other little book, Undertow. I’m very proud of both my books. Can you tell? So wow! Here we go! Buy! Thank you!

A few books have been signed and sent off to relatives. For those cousins and friends I didn’t send books to I apologize, but it would be nice to make a little money. If I send to one cousin, the other cousins would be jealous. How do I choose? Do you see what I mean? And the book is cheap, $5.50 plus shipping. It’s not a large book. It’s what they call a chapbook, 32 pages. It won’t take you long to read, and please let me know what you think.   

Pictures are included, all but one taken by my father, Morton Friedman, whom among other things was a terrific amateur photographer. Amber Lea Starfire helped me format my book for CreateSpace. And Amber, along with my other workshop pals, Patsy Ann Taylor and Christina Julian supported me through the whole process. To them I say thanks and cheers!  

For comments, what are you most proud of lately?

Zorie, Zorry, Zori

Photo by iMool

Ever feel like your eyes are in the right place at the right time? Recently, while reading Your Daily Poem—a fun website that emails followers a new poem every day—I spotted the word, zorry. One of the stories in my upcoming shiny new collection, Water Over Time, is called “The Zorie Sisters.” After having done a hasty search of sandal advertisements on the Internet, I trusted my spelling of zorie was correct.

How lucky to be reading a poem displaying the word, zorry.  Made me question its spelling. My chapbook is in the final just-a-smidgen-left stage of edits before zipping off to CreateSpace.

Only yesterday, Amber, my high-tech helper, emailed me a PDF version. “Give it a last look,” she said.

Excitedly, I opened my copy, this after reading my daily poem. How odd is it that I should read a poem featuring a zorry? It’s not like zorry, or zori, or zorie, is a common word. Is someone up there trying to help me? Do I have an editing angel?

Wishing to mind the signs that be, I consulted Wikipedia: “Zōri (草履^?) are flat and thonged Japanese sandals…quite similar to flip-flops…” I changed my spelling, and I bow to Wiki and kiss zori. Thank you, Japan, for zori. Slipping into flip-flops is one of the joys of summer.

Thank goodness my eyes were in the right place at the right time.   

Water Over Time, thirty-three pages of stories, poems, and pictures about growing up in Guam, including the story, “The Zori Sisters,” is nearing completion. Then off we go. Stay tuned.

Crying Babies

photo by Stefan Gara

If you read my last blog, there's been a slight change. I'm in the editing stage of my book. Perhaps you didn't notice, but I sure did. After all, a mother can recognize her own baby's cry, and boy, was my baby crying. How could I not see this before? One very awkward sentence. It wasn’t me. Baby must have written that one herself and she can’t write yet, but I fixed it, and now it reads fine.

Second guessing seems to be the norm. Lying awake last night─that's right, babies keep you up at night─I wondered if my sarcastic tone might put off a whole race of people, but after another look again this very early a.m., I think not. I'm mostly happy with the content of stories and poems. I need to edit and think about design.

Only one more page to write, About the Author. I know nothing about myself. After all these years, what can I say that is new and endearing?

After that, the publishing process begins, but I would also like to add a few pictures. I'm very vain and I was quite beautiful as a young girl. It will be hard not to use many. Seriously, I have to decide how many pictures are appropriate, and will they work in black and white or should I use color? I have at least two in mind.
.
And what about contests? Should I enter? Try to get a few books published for free and win prize money? Sounds good, but it’s a long process. What, what, what, is the best route? My workshop buddies share advice, but ultimately the decision is mine. I will probably have Copy Corner in Napa print my chapbooks again. They did a great job with Undertow, in 2011. 

Want to hear the best news of all? I showed a friend photos of the trip I took to Guam in 2010, and asked her opinion about one of the pictures for the cover of my book. She’s an artist so I thought she would have a good eye, and she said, “I can paint that for you.”

Wow! Her name is Elaine Lewis and she works out of her home in Lake County. She does a show at a gallery in Lakeport once a year, and she’s won many prizes at the local fair.

So lots of little things to think about for baby, but first I have to get her to stop crying. Anyone want to weigh in here?