Monday, January 28, 2013

True Story Telling Event "Close Calls"

On Saturday a friend of mine hosted a True Story Telling event in Calgary, Canada, inspired by the True Story podcasts. The theme was Close Calls.

What an incredible night!

There is a joy to being present and listening to people tell their stories, live and in-person. Strangers can become friends, and friends or acquaintances learn a new layer to the other. Saturday night was real. In some cases raw, others hilarious, in all fascinating.

Listening to the stories, there was little time for nerves anticipating my turn at the microphone. And I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. We all have our own stories to tell. In selecting which one to tell on Saturday, memories that have long been dormant resurfaced. In listening to others tell their "close call" story, even more came whispering in. It was a great night hearing everyone's tales.

There is an art and beauty to storytelling that feeds the soul.  I love hearing and reading stories; around a campfire, or at an art studio like Saturday, or curled up with a book. Stories can nourish us, connect us, and remind us we are not alone in this human experience.

That is one of the reasons I love writing, I get to share stories with others.

Many thanks to all who inspired, participated, attended and organized! It was an awesome night!

Happy Listening, Happy Reading, Happy Writing,
Sarah

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Valentine's Wine and Cheese in Vegreville, Alberta!

What would a romance author do on Valentine's Weekend? Attend a library fundraiser Wine and Cheese of course!! I am delighted to be the guest author at the Vegreville Centennial Library's Valentine Fundraiser on February 9th! Come join us for a lovely evening. 



Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Goal Setting and Achieving

Happy New Year! Thank you 2012, you were awesome! Welcome 2013, here's to our best year yet!!

I've been thinking a lot about goals for this year. A lot of my writer friends have shared their writing goals and it has got me thinking about mine. What do I want to accomplish this year, as a writer, as a person, as a wife and mother. What do I want to do with my 2013?

2012 was an incredible year. I learned so much, and had a blast doing it. What I want to characterize 2013 is more action and more focus. I've been working on the organizational part of the writing business, but it is time to take it the next step and produce more results. To write, sell, and promote successfully.

I'm a foundations kid, I like to learn and figure out the baseline, make sure I have a solid understanding of the foundation of whatever endeavor I am pursuing, and build and grow from that. A couple years ago I picked up bouldering as a sport. Nothing hard core, mind you, and I have no idea the vernacular yet, but it is a great example of my foundation building. I worked hours on grip work, both with my hands and feet. I practiced moving across the wall, tuned to my center of gravity, balance, reach. If it has been awhile since my last time out, I still bring it back to basics. But there comes a time when you have to trust yourself and move beyond the foundations stage. There comes a time when you have to try that wall, with its overhangs and verticals and ridiculously wee grips.

Sure you might slip or fall, or not manage the route you were going for, but the learning and discovery is awesome. And when you do get across the wall, it is pure elation. The feeling of accomplishment incredible.

Holy crap, I can do more than I thought I could.

Indeed. We all can. What is your writing wall, or otherwise, that you want to move across? What toe and hand holds to you need to coordinate, orchestrate, navigate to reach your goals? Are you working on it? Have you taken your goals and broken them down into doable, small steps? Big tasks are done by completing small steps. 

This business of writing is a fun, awesome adventure. Cheers to 2013, it's epic adventures, and all the people who help make it so! Thank you!!

Happy Writing, Happy Reading, Happy Being!
Sarah