Storyteller's Journey

My Belated Book Event

One of the most exciting times for an author is publication day and the numerous book events that follow. It's like the reward for all the months (sometimes years) of writing by oneself and staying disciplined. It's not why I write, but it's gratifying.                          (Photo from book event 11-1-24)

In September 2023 my first novel in The Time Travel Tales of Livvi Biddle was published. I had worked on The Sibylline Scroll for over ten years, including a trip to Europe where I did research for the series. Having that novel published was the culmination of a lot of stress, tears, and time. However, weeks before it was due to be published, I received a diagnosis of cancer. It was devastating news, to say the least. Needless to say, any book events had to be postponed. The last quarter of 2023 was one of the most challenging times of my life.

After having two surgeries, I completed my chemotherapy in February 2024. However, I soon found out that it takes months of recovery to regain your strength and stamina. By the end of last summer, I was feeling much more like myself. My schedule was finally free to schedule a much-belated book event.

Two weeks ago, I had a book signing for not only my newest novel, but for the four previous books I've had published. I have so much for which to be grateful!

In fact, here is my big news!

Stay tuned in the coming months for more updates!

Storyteller's Journey

All is Lost
(or is it?)

If you're a writer, then you're familiar with the "three-act story structure." If you're not, and you're interested, click here. My son Kevin (who's also a writer) and I love to point out items of the three-act story structure while we're watching a movie. We'll say, "That's the inciting incident; that's the midpoint; that's the all is lost moment..." It's actually not a good habit - it prevents us from truly savoring the movie!

One of the most iconic "all is lost" moments in cinematic history comes in The Empire Strikes Back in the Star Wars Series. When Darth Vader tells Luke Skywalker, "I am your father," the bottom falls out of Luke's world. Not only of his external world, but of his internal world - his very identity.

In my life I've had at least three "all is lost" moments. Without going into detail, they were all situations where I was in deep despair and found it very difficult to go on. However, I did, due to my faith, perseverance, and the knowledge that I had people depending on me. In every case, the aftermath of those dark days was not easy, but eventually the sun did come out again in my world. Like the protagonist in the Hero's Journey, there is always a rising from the ashes, a resolution. But you must go on to see it.

Last Tuesday night as I watched the results come in for the U.S. Presidential Election, I found myself thinking of the "all is lost" moment. While I'm an Independent, and I won't discuss politics, I realized that many of my friends would have an extremely difficult time processing the election's result. Maybe it's that I'm a writer and accustomed to writing a plot where the protagonist goes through tough trials, but always prevails in the end, that I was so hopeful even at that moment. It's not life's blessings that make us strong, but life's challenges. Either way, we must go forward as a united country.

For decades I've lived by the words that Einstein so eloquently said, 

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."

Storyteller's Journey

VOTE - Make Your Voice Heard!

If you're of voting age, the time to vote is now. (If you're a younger person, tell the adults in your life to vote!) The office of U.S. President is not the only item on this year's ballot. Depending on what state you reside in, there are numerous other candidates and issues for which to cast your vote. Women and minorities fought and sacrificed so much for the right to vote. The least we can do as U.S. citizens is to honor them by voting. There is too much at stake this year not to.

I voted over a week ago.

Storyteller's Journey

 Family Ties

In the past I've mentioned the balance I employ to juggle my work as a writer and my life as a wife, mother, and daughter. Well, now I'm blessed to add another role to the mix: Grandmother!

While I've shared the extraordinary news of my granddaughter's arrival on a few other social media sites, I've not mentioned it here on Writ of Whimsy. 

Adeline Joy Zimmerman was born on October 2, 2024. She and her parents - our son and daughter-in-law, David & Jessica - are all doing well.

Needless to say, we are all overwhelmed with gratitude, love, and joy for this little bundle of magic!

Prior to Adeline's arrival, David and Jessica took a "babymoon" in Seattle. We are so proud of them for the way they have taken on the responsibilities of being great parents!

Becoming grandparents was something that we thought might never happen. However, we are so glad it did! Michael and I already have plans to introduce Adeline to the woodland countryside around our home, as well as to literature, art, and music.

It's interesting how Adeline's presence in my own heart has invigorated and inspired my writing. With all that's going on in our world, she has brought a bright light to our little corner of the country.

At nearly the same time Adeline was arriving, my mother took a terrible fall that left her with a broken hip and shoulder. So last week I flew to Arizona to see her. While I was there, I also saw my son Kevin. My mother and son are like two peas in a pod! It was wonderful to see my mom recovering so well. And since Kevin has now returned to South America, it was great to see him again before he left.

While I was in Phoenix, I stayed with my brother and his wife, Kim. They are always so generous with their hospitality. Sadly, I failed to photograph my brother, D.J., my niece, Emma, and my nephew, Joseph, who I also enjoyed seeing!

With all the excitement for the branch of the family that lives on the West Coast, it's been difficult to keep in touch with our youngest son Brian, who still lives in New Jersey. Thankfully, he'll be home in a few weeks to meet Adeline and to celebrate Thanksgiving with all of us.

Brian loves to cook, so I'm hoping he'll help out with the turkey - since I've never claimed to be much of a cook!

Now that I'm back home and things are beginning to settle down (before they ramp up again for the holidays!), I've made good progress on the second novel in my fantasy children's book series.

If you live in the Portland OR/Vancouver WA metro area, I'd love to see you next Friday! P.S. That's my brother's pool, not mine. 😀

Storyteller's Journey

Fight for the Freedom to Read!

While I usually attempt to be a peacemaker, a few things can get me pretty riled up: like banning books!
As a mother, part of me sort of understands the concerns about the type of books my child reads. However, I cannot for the life of me understand why other parents feel it's their duty to ban my children (grandchild) from certain books. Fighting for this freedom right now reminds me of other freedoms that are currently being challenged.

The freedom to read is no less important than other freedoms we cherish. Think about it: Having an authority tell a child what she can and cannot read is a backdoor way of brainwashing. History tells us how that went last time!

Tomorrow libraries across the country are sponsoring a "day of action." Click here to learn more. Ultimately, the freedom to read may be settled at the ballot box, so be sure to vote!

"He who destroys a good book, kills reason itself."

John Milton

Storyteller's Journey

A Fantasy World

Since I live in the corner of the country made famous by Bigfoot, vampires, and werewolves, it's not surprising that when I began to write, I wrote fantasy stories, and still do.
Public Domain Photo

Writing (and reading) can not only be a form of entertainment, but a way of escaping a world too difficult to deal with - like the one we live in right now. For the most part, I try to stay out of the current chaos. It's not that I'm sticking my head in the sand during these tumultuous times, it's just that after a while, listening to the constant rhetoric reminds me of children saying, "You did it first!" However, I find the recent racial bent to the rhetoric, deplorable. This is not the example the young people of our country should be seeing! If adults act like this, how do we expect the leaders of tomorrow to act? Our youth are the future fabric of our nation. Will it be strong, or will it be torn apart?

This was, in part, my motivation for the protagonist of my middle grade novel to bring an era of peace to the world. It's sad to think that that idea would be set in the plot of a fantasy novel, but here we are. Maybe, by some miracle, my middle grade fantasy series - The Time Travel Tales of Livvi Biddle - will not only entertain young readers, but might introduce them to iconic historic figures, customs and cultures of different countries, and might plant a seed in their minds as to a better way to understand different types of people. We'll see...

(I'll be away from Writ of Whimsy for a few weeks. See you soon!)

Storyteller's Journey

Autumn's Arrival!

As I've mentioned many times on this blog, autumn is my favorite season! While that might seem strange to folks who know I live in the Pacific Northwest with its infamous rains, it's true.

This season with its cold, crisp air and colorful leaves, reminds me of my school days so long ago. It also triggers me to begin writing again in earnest.

Click here for my most recent quarterly author newsletter.

If you live in the PNW, I'd love to see you at my upcoming book event!

Wishing each of you a fantastic fall season!