Love Around the Table A collection of Short Stories Organized by Linda Joyce

7/9/2018

Multi-volume author and anthologizer, Linda Joyce, introduces us to an anthology designed to raise money for the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, Love Around the Table:

Second chance at love, second chance at life.
Six Southern authors share six great short stories of friendship, family, and romance, and six special recipes of love.

A life-threatening diagnosis triggers forgiveness and healing between two estranged sisters.
A Sister’s Quandary by Rachel Jones

Life shoves an award-winning pastry chef into a big career change where she discovers the depths of true friendship and love.
Layers of Love by Linda Joyce

In rural Mississippi, a ten-year-old black girl and white boy bond over fishing as they navigate the racial waters of the 1930s.
Mississippi Catfish by Constance Gillam

A caregiver son and an activities director at a senior living facility discover the magic powers of love.
No More Lonely Hearts by Marilyn Baron

A harried widower with four young mischievous daughters proves to a wounded woman there’s always room for one more around the table.
Table for Six by Melissa Klein

An unexpected Lazy Susan disaster splatters the news of a famous baseball player reuniting with his small-town sweetheart.
Turning the Table on Love by Ciara Knight

These are great stories! They are an easy read and very entertaining, showcasing that hope and life are often found in the places we least expect. Besides the obvious themes of love and family connecting all these stories, there is a third theme of food. The authors have provided a recipe for one of the foods in their story. The story, “Layers of Love”, involves a pastry chef and food actually plays a major role in the story, second only to the relationships. For so many of us, relationships and food go together like___ you fill in the blank. For me, peanut butter and jam.
These stories explore the pain and joy of relationships in a way that makes me smile inside, even when tears are filling my eyes.
Even if you are sure that romance is not a genre you are interested in, I encourage you to get the book just to support the Ronald McDonald house in Atlanta. I won’t twist your arm to read the book, just to buy it.
I enjoyed these refreshing stories so much, I award 5 stars.

Left to right: Rachel Jones, Constance Gillam, Ciara Knight, Melissa Klein, Linda Joyce, and Marilyn Baron.
You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Around-Table-Linda-Joyce-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36395252-love-around-the-table
https://www.bookbub.com/books/love-around-the-table

100% of E-book sales to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities in Atlanta, Georgia

You can follow Linda Joyce:
https://twitter.com/LJWriter
http://www.linda-joyce.com
https://www.facebook.com/LindaJoyceAuthor

Tags: family life, ex-military, charity, celebrities, pastry chef, women’s fiction, fiction, cooking, domestic life
Copyright © 2018 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction

56 Comments

Linda Joyce link

7/10/2018 09:53:11 am

Mark,

I am grateful that you took a risk on a genre--romance--that's not your usual kind of read. The review means so much to me--exposure for the book to raise money to help families of sick children. These families are provided a quality place to stay, a network of support, and the peace of mind knowing their child and hospital are nearby when they're fighting for their child's life.

I also want to thank the authors for their generosity and willingness to lend their support for this cause. When asked to participate, each enthusiastically brought their talent to the table. (Yes, the pun is intended. :-) )

I did want to share that the Clara character in my story, Layers of Love, was named for my best friend in college, and I used the essence of my dear friend to bring the character alive. I did it to honor her. In the face of dealing with a horrible disease, which eventually took her from us, Clara remained sweet, witty, upbeat, and grateful for life.

I believe most of the authors will be stopping by today to leave a comment and introduce themselves. And I hope readers will give our other books a try.

Smiles,
Linda Joyce

Mark

7/10/2018 10:30:29 am

Linda it was a risk well worth taking. While this is not the first romance I have read, my eyes have been opened to the greater possibilities within the genre. Thank you for asking me to read it.
I hope most people know about the mission of the Ronald McDonald Houses across the nation. I am honored to participate in that mission at this time.
I look forward to meeting your fellow authors.
Thank you for sharing and honoring your friend, Clara. I did enjoy that story quite a bit. We honored a very close friend, she died of a brain cancer, by using her first name as the middle name of our first child, a daughter.
Here is a question for you and your fellow authors.
Is there a book that still brings tears to your eyes, no matter how many times you read it?

Marilyn Baron link

7/10/2018 10:45:01 am

Mark,
What a wonderful review. I'm so happy you gave this romance anthology a try and that you enjoyed it. It is for a great cause. I came up with the idea for my story No More Lonely Hearts because my mother has dementia and she's living in an amazing place in Florida that has so many activities and it inspired the fictional, magical Eternal Springs in the story. I hope you enjoy my recipe Spaghetti Carbonara. The food at the place where my mother lives is actually really delicious but I don't think they serve that. Thanks again for the review. It was a pleasure working with all these lovely ladies on this project.

7/10/2018 12:52:06 pm

Mark,
There is one story that always brings tears--sometimes a flood of them--The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy. It's funny the scenes that impact a reader. I've tried a number of times to have that book as a Book Club selection because I want to talk about the book so much. But when my friends read the book--they said it was too emotional to discuss.

Smiles,
LJ

7/10/2018 10:47:22 am

Oh, and Mark, to answer your question about books that bring tears to my eyes, I guess I'd have to say one of my favorites is The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak.

7/10/2018 11:00:13 am

If your readers are interested in checking out any of my novels, I write in a variety of genres, from humorous women's fiction to historical romance and romantic suspense to paranormal/fantasy. My web site is www.marilynbaron.com. Thank you.

7/10/2018 12:02:45 pm

Thank you for participating in this project. I really enjoyed your story. My dad was a commercial and military pilot.
Thank you for sharing about your writing and your website. I hope you will share your social media links also. What is your most recent book?

7/11/2018 11:07:31 am

Mark, although I write in a number of genres, I'm focusing now on historical fiction or romantic thrillers. So far I've written four of them, Under the Moon Gate, Stumble Stones, The Siege, and my latest book which isn't out yet, The Saffron Conspiracy. I set a lot of my books in contemporary times and during WW II. My father was a top-turret gunner flying in B-17s over Europe during the war so that inspired me to write during that time period. My latest book, The Siege: A Novel, is set in Florence, Italy, where I studied in college for six months and on the island of Crete in Greece, which I've also visited. It features characters in both contemporary and WW II Greece. It has themes of romance, intrigue and art, as the heroine is an artist and her grandfather, who she had never known, was also an artist in Greece, who studied under Chagall. As far as my own books that make me cry, I would say Stumble Stones, especially the ending. It takes place in Berlin in contemporary times and has some WW II stories as well. Readers can visit me on social media on my facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Marilyn-Baron-286807714666748/ or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MarilynBaron and of course my web site at www.marilynbaron.com. Thank you.

Constance Gillam link

7/10/2018 11:33:30 am

Mark, thank you for the lovely review.

I've worked on my family tree for several years. Both my mother and father's families have lived in Mississippi since emancipation. I wanted to write a story that reflected the time period of my mother's youth--the 1930s.
I write stories about people disenfranchised from the American dream. When asked to participate in the anthology, I wanted to write a story that stayed true to my brand but brought hope to my readers. Hence, Mississippi Catfish was born.

One book close to my heart is, A Thousand Voices by Lisa Wingate.

7/10/2018 12:05:29 pm

Thank you, Constance, for sharing about your story in this book. I enjoyed your story a great deal. What is your most recent book? Please feel free to share your website and social media links also.

7/10/2018 05:13:48 pm

Hey, Mark. Glad you enjoyed Mississippi Catfish.

My latest book is an adult romantic thriller, Lakota Blood Moon, available in digital and print formats. Lakota Blood Moon is the second book in the Lakota series and is available for the next few days in digital format at 99 cents.

My website is www.constancegillam.com
Twitter @conniegillam
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorconstancegillam

Thanks for your interest.

7/10/2018 07:26:27 pm

Thank you for sharing about your book and your links. I enjoyed each story so much.

Melissa Klein link

7/10/2018 05:34:40 pm

Mark,
Thank you for your kind review. Working on this project was a pleasure. Each author put so much thought into her story, and the book benefits a worthy charity. Writing Table For Six was a hoot. As a former teacher, I don't enjoy kids who cause as much trouble as Sam's 4 girls do, but writing about their shenanigans was a blast, especially since it ended with a happily ever after.
To answer your question: the book that always brings tears to my eyes is Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. It's a middle grades book I read to my students each year, and I cried at the same places every time.

7/10/2018 07:29:08 pm

I loved your story, it made me cry also. The girls' hijinks were a lot of fun!
Would you please tell us about your newest book and share your social media and website links?

7/10/2018 08:06:44 pm

My latest two books are Out of Sight and Out of Time. They are books 2 and 3 of my Out of Uniform series. In these books, my heroes struggle to reinvent themselves when their military careers come to an end all the while finding the love they never thought they deserved.
Out of Sight was particularly difficult to write because the heroine is based on my daughter who also survived a traumatic brain injury. Every struggle Mia faced was like reliving my daughter's recovery. Fortunately, both young women have a happy ending.
Readers can find character interviews, upcoming releases, and read stories behind the recipes I love at
http://www.melissakleinromance.com/

Mary Lou Webb

7/10/2018 05:57:45 pm

Mark, great review for a book supporting a worthy cause. Thank you for caring.

Linda, I’d love to know more about the authors and their stories.

7/10/2018 07:34:40 pm

Thanks for dropping in Mary Lou. Thanks for the appreciation of my review.
Have you read this book? I hope so. Are you an author?

7/10/2018 08:08:38 pm

Mary Lou,

Hey there! All of the authors live in the metro-Atlanta area and are members of Georgia Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America. All are award-winning writers. Melissa, Rachel, and Ciara live not far from me. Constance and I took a intensive writing class last November. Melissa, Marilyn, and I are all with the same publisher.
Our writing lives are intertwined.

Smiles,
Linda Joyce

7/10/2018 07:38:16 pm

It's so good to hear from some of the authors of this collection of stories.
A new question for as many want to answer.
What about your own books. Is there one that still makes you cry?
When you write, does it make you feel strong or weak, and why?

7/10/2018 08:20:44 pm

Mark,

In my books, I want to show how flawed women, sometimes worn down by circumstances or even shackled within family roles in contemporary times, find themselves. Find their inner strength. Find that they can grow and overcome and have love and happiness.

For me, though the story didn't make me cry, Bayou Beckons was a way to work through my pain of what happened to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast thanks to Hurricane Katrina. That story ends just as the hurricane hits. In the companion trilogy of Fleur de Lis Brides, each of the three brides deals with the aftermath of the hurricane. I blended sad circumstances with a happily ever after.

But for real tears, I have a story I'm querying now and it deals with a woman facing her deepest fear and how she battles to protect and provide for her son. Its very sad. All the beta readers who read it told me they cried. But it has a satisfying ending.

~ Linda

Susan Jackson

7/11/2018 11:20:33 am

Nice to see a man reading these stories. Linda did a great job putting this together with wonderful stories.

7/11/2018 12:42:48 pm

Susan,
Thank you for your kind words. And it was wonderful that you made the trip to Atlanta for the launch and signing of the book at the Ronald McDonald House.

Hugs,
Linda

7/12/2018 12:16:58 am

Yes, Linda did a very nice job! Thanks for dropping in. Do you have a question for the authors or me?

Lori Byrd

7/11/2018 08:02:04 pm

What a wonderful idea to put all these amazing authors together. Thank you for organizing this Linda. Great for Ronald McDonald House. Kudos to you!

7/12/2018 12:18:54 am

Lori, thanks for dropping in and I must agree with you, these authors are all very talented! If you could ask them any question, what would it be?

7/13/2018 01:48:02 pm

Lori,

I have contributed stories to other causes, too. When the EF 5 tornado hit Joplin, MO, there was anthology created to raise funds for books, since schools and libraries had been wiped out.
I wrote a story titled Arctic Arkansas--my survival of an ice storm in Arkansas and being stranded on the interstate. The ordeal was eighteen hours to go 140 miles.
Here's the concept for that book: "In a collaborative effort, the Missouri Writers’ Guild and its Joplin Writers’ Guild chapter, the Missouri Humanities Council, and Mozark Press present a collection of the region’s writers and poets who contributed their work as a fundraising effort to restore library resources for the Joplin School District." I had been the newsletter editor for the Missouri Writers Guild.

In addition, I contributed a story to the Love & Grace anthology to raise funds for Grace Point School--a school for dyslexic children--that provides special programs to help the children receive the help, support, and tools they need to transition into public school.

Thank you for supporting this book.

Smiles,
Linda Joyce

7/12/2018 12:21:18 am

Here is another question for the authors.
Have you ever used acquaintances as the basis for a character, to the point they have recognized themselves in your book? How did that work out?

7/13/2018 01:37:52 pm

Mark,

Good question! As Susan Jackson can attest, I often snap pictures of folks when I'm people watching. I did this when she and I were lunching at a diner. In that case, that person had a "look" that suggests a character to me. For example, I was in Ohio at a grocery store and spied a woman with what we call in the south, "big hair." She had her gray hair teased and piled on her head in a beehive French twist. She wore a red, white, and blue shirt, white slacks with wedge heels. Patriotic and polished and proud. She will be in a book someday.

Generally, I don't base a character on an acquaintance because there have been lawsuits over that. Invasion of privacy. In one case, the author won, but went into debt to pay legal fees. In the other case, the author lost and had to pay legal fees and a judgement.

I take elements of characteristics and put them together to create characters. And, I take my own life experiences. In Her Heart's Desire, the female protagonist is dealing with a lot of external conflict because of the bank, the weather, and her well-meaning, but controlling brother. Her internal landscape is also in conflict because she has regrets about the relationship with her mother--her parents died in a car accident.

When I wrote about her regret and grief, I pulled from the sudden death of my brother, as well as, other family and friends who died.

Main male or female characters in my books usually have at least some little thing that is part of my life. It could be food, a favorite color, a song, a movie, and that will come up in the story.

Thanks so much for the great question!

Smiles,
Linda

7/13/2018 02:54:37 pm

Thanks for sharing about that aspect of your writing process. I love how you create your characters. You are an ace people watcher without a doubt. I can certainly see the possibility of a lawsuit, if someone felt they were portrayed in a less-than flattering way.
You have mentioned having a number of writer friends, I think you are very fortunate in that way. Some writers have troubles connecting with other writers. What would you tell a writer from a small town who wanted to connect with other authors but they are the only writer they know of in their town?
What is the most valuable piece of advice another writer has given you?

7/13/2018 04:28:28 pm

Mark,

A good question about finding other writers. In general, writers have to put themselves out there. I think it depends on the type of interaction a writer is seeking as to how to find a group. Do they want to build a network to get industry information? Be part of a critique group? Seeking writer education? I also am assuming you’re referring to face-to-face contact rather via the internet. These are my suggestions:

1) Contact the local reference librarian to see if they know of any other writers in town. Sometimes, even local news reporters are writers of fiction or nonfiction books. See if the library will let you put up a sign advertising the start of a new writing group.

2) Check at bookstores to see if there are any local writers. Make contact via their websites.

3) Check out the nearest adult education center and see if they have a writing class. Connect with the instructor OR take the class and meet the instructor and students.

4) Find the closest writing seminar or conference and attend. Join the group. To give you an example, when I lived in Kansas, I was a member of a writer group that belong to a federation comprised of writing groups in many states. Though OWFI only has one event a year, I met writers from these states and we still network, sometimes critique, and follow each other on social media now that I’m in Atlanta.

5) Use the internet to set up a meeting for writers. I have found a couple of groups via Meet Up. (https://www.meetup.com). If there isn’t locally, consider setting one up at the local library or a coffee shop.

And if you’re not looking for an actual face-to-face group, there are lots on the internet for every writing genre.

The most valuable piece of writing a writer gave me was, “Don’t be in a hurry.” I didn’t follow that advice. Now, I see the wisdom of those words. And at the same time, I guess in the end, everything works out like it’s supposed to.

7/13/2018 08:12:56 pm

I lovwe taking pictures of people/families doing everyday things—so often they don’t have a capture of the moment and I will go up to them and show them the pictures andmask if they would like to forward it to themselves—the other day I was eating waterfront and a father had his little girl—about 1 and was playing in the water with her—he was so grateful for the pictures.

Kari

7/12/2018 01:29:15 am

What a great idea and wonderful charity. I will have to check this book out

7/12/2018 10:32:32 am

Kari,
I do hope you'll give it a try. When you buy the ebook, you're giving a gift and getting something good for you, too.
Please let us hear from you. You can find all of the authors on Facebook and Twitter.

Smiles,
Linda Joyce

Eileen Omosa link

7/12/2018 05:33:16 pm

Congratulations to all the authors - for completing your book, supporting a worthy cause, and getting Mark to read a romance book.
Two weeks ago he reviewed my book, and I guess realized the romance was limited to a kiss with a strong message on a girl who made it against many odds.
There are many reasons I will read your book next week: I read a lot of books, I write in the romance (sweet, historical, contemporary) genre, I work in the area of food security, I cook at least one meal a day, and I have outlined a book on diaspora in times of grief - I have my experiences.
My question: what was your experience coordinating so many writers/as a member of a group, to write under one theme? Other than food nourishing our bodies and bringing families together, does food play a role in healing, both for the patient and family?
Thanks and more questions after I read the book.

7/13/2018 12:39:13 am

Thanks, Eileen, I appreciate you dropping by. I enjoyed your book quite a bit as well. You have asked some interesting questions. I look forward to seeing the answers. Food is important to us on more than one level. Some foods make us feel so good and remind us of home. Is there one food that reminds you of home when you were a little girl?

7/13/2018 01:20:54 pm

Eileen,

Thank you for your heartfelt words about Love Around The Table. I wish you great success with your book. I’ll check it out.

You have posed some interesting questions. I’ll do my best to reply.

Coordinating so many writers was not a problem at all. Melissa and Marilyn and I are published through a small press. We’ve done a number of book signings together, so I “pitched” my idea of the anthology to them, then each of us invited another writer to join the group. All of the writers are members of Romance Writers of America and Georgia Romance Writers. All live in the metro-Atlanta area. All are acquainted with each other—and we trusted everyone would follow the guidelines and submit a touching story according to schedule. This is a group of professional authors. My faith in them was absolutely rewarded.

As Melissa and Marilyn and I discussed the project, love around the table became the focus, thus the theme. Love can take many forms: sisterly love, friendship love, romantic love, to identify a few. Additionally, when I pitched the pitched the concept to them, we were having breakfast around a table. Each subsequent meeting was around a table and food was involved. The theme was perfect for us.

Technically, in the truest form of the romance genre, there are only three romance stories in the anthology. Two stories are women’s fiction with romantic elements, and a YA. However, there is a spark of bonding, friendship, and/or attraction within each story that has a touch of the romantic.

Does food heal? I think food can heal the heart as well as the body. At the Ronald McDonald Houses (over the years, I have been involved with three different houses in different towns/states), community members and different organizations come and cook for the residents or they come to cook (you should see how fabulous the kitchens are!) and leave food in the fridge for the families.

Almost daily, the families staying at the house will gather for dinner. I believe it helps them have a sense of community, offers support, and also experience a caring understanding, because everyone at a Ronald McDonald House is facing the same crisis—they have a sick child. While food on its own may not be a magical cure, what comes with the food can be a lifeline.

Please let me hear from after you’ve read the book. Thank you so much for supporting a great cause—when you purchase the book, you’re giving a gift.

Most Humbly,

Linda Joyce

Pernette Wells link

7/13/2018 09:46:28 am

I read this book this past Christmas and enjoyed all of the stories that the authors contributed. However, that these authors would give their time to benefit others this way is wonderful. The readers must do their part and buy "Love Around the Table" to complete the circle of giving. I encourage readers to buy "Love Around The Table" all proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House of Atlanta.

7/13/2018 11:59:26 am

Thank you, Pernette, for stopping by and sharing your testimony. I agree with you, I hope a lot of people buy this book, enjoy the recipes and support the charity.
I hope you enjoyed the rest of my website. Did you find the humor page?

7/13/2018 01:23:28 pm

Pernette,

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and support the cause of this book. I'm happy you enjoyed the stories. I'm thrilled your heart is big and you gave a gift to help the families of children facing cancer, other life-threatening illnesses, and traumatic accidents.

Blessings,

Linda Joyce

7/13/2018 05:43:19 pm

Great answer, Linda, about how a lonely writer has many ways to connect with other writers. Thank you for sharing from your life also. I loved your take on the best piece of advice you have received also.
New questions.
A lot of writers talk about writer's block. Do you think it is real? Why or why not? How do you deal with it, if it is a problem for you? Do you have a strategy to avoid encountering writer's block altogether?

7/15/2018 05:30:50 pm

Mark,

I’m in camp-Rachel about the concept of writer’s block. I don’t really believe in it. I think there are reasons why writers don’t connect in a snap with their muse or move into the flow of creativity, but to be blocked? I just don’t relate at all.

My creativity runs nearly nonstop. If it’s not conjuring up a story, it’s swirling about other things like what picture I want to paint, what I want to cook, or crochet, or an arts and craft project I want to make—like a Christmas tree from oyster shells.

However, there are times when I’m not sure about a direction a story needs to go, then I need to be still and quiet. Get away from a world that’s face-paced and loud. The getaway can be as easy as the library with a noise-cancelling headset or driving down the street to the park to look at the lake. I always take a notebook.

I actually have a workshop called STOP! To Start—getting past writer’s block.

Generally, it takes about five minutes to do an action to connect a writer to their flow. They might be moving slowly, like a horse pulling a cart on a country road, but they’re not blocked. I offer multiple tools to get a writer into their flow.

I did a lot of research about how to stimulate the brain, how to calm the nervous system, then put them together to create the material for the workshop.

A tip: Stand more than an arm’s length behind your desk chair. Feet about hip-width apart. Slowly begin to twist at the waist, doing this gently, first to the right, then the left. Next, begin to swing your arms in the direction of the twist such that both hands are crossing the midline of the body. For example, if I twist to the left, my right hand will move to tap my left hip.

I have lots of different types of tips that employ different senses to assist a writer to connect with their creativity.

And, sometimes, just as Rachel pointed out--we need a break. Life dictates that other tasks or activities require our full attention.

Great question!

Smiles,

Linda Joyce

7/15/2018 05:39:49 pm

That makes a lot of sense to me. Utilizing science is brilliant, there has been so much research about cognition. I have encouraged writers to develop multiple channels of creativity by having more than one writing project at a time. I think your idea of expanding into different mediums is one better.
New question:
What are three things you wish you knew before writing your first book?

7/15/2018 11:32:04 pm

Mark,

What three things…before I wrote my first book. Very thought provoking question. You really made me engage a lot of brain cells on a Sunday night.

1) I wish I’d read Save the Cat by Blake Snyder—that helped me understand about scenes and plotting, made the concept of storytelling tangible in a way my brain could understand. My first novel was a hot mess at 140,000 words. I was too close to it for too long to be objective about it. Save The Cat might have saved my book.

2) I wish I knew that being a writer was going to make me feel vulnerable in a way I’d never been before—I think I would’ve approached my career a bit differently. I was told to be patient, but I wasn’t and doing the Sunday-morning-armchair-quarterback thing—I can see how things might be different today if I had. But, I believe everything is a learning or teaching opportunity, and everything works out like it’s supposed to in the end. One of my favorite quotes come from The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie, “Everything will be alright in the end, and if it is not alright, it is not the end.”

3) I wish I had truly understood how being an author is very different from being a writer. Whether a writer becomes traditionally published or published with a small press or self-published, they cross into authorship. An author becomes a brand. An author is running a business—accounting, advertising, book production, marketing, etc., not just working a writing career path. An author has to have thick skin and needs find some loyal friends to handle the needed hard story talks, shots of confidence—some even the liquid kind, and friends who are okay when tears are shed.

Thank you for allowing to share my thoughts on these topics. Very interesting for me. Hope for you, too.

All my best,

Linda

LENDA BURNS

7/13/2018 07:52:31 pm

What a great collection of stories.
These authors are amazing and to help with this fundraiser is a great idea and a worthy cause.

7/13/2018 08:15:11 pm

Thank you, Lenda, for dropping in and sharing your opinion about the book! Which story was your favorite? Do you have a question for Linda? Are you a writer yourself?

Rachel Jones link

7/14/2018 08:24:41 am

Mark,

Thank you for taking the time to read and share your opinion of Love Around the Table. When presented with the concept of the project — stories of love, a food connection, donation of proceeds to a local charity — I was hooked. Working with these authors on the anthology was a golden experience of my writing journey.

My background as a registered nurse growing up with four sisters had an impact as an idea of two sisters with a medical dilemma emerged into a short story. It pleased me to include the recipe I created for squash casserole. Through the years, it has been handed down to family members, and my husband stills loves it after forty years of marriage.

The book Love You Forever by Munsch and McGraw has always brought me to tears; partly because of the story, but also because my son would sit long enough to hear me read it — no so with other books.

7/14/2018 12:53:46 pm

Thank you, Rachel, for joining us. Your story about the estranged sisters was powerful, the pain they each felt was quite palpable. Thank you for being part of this charitable project.
That casserole recipe must be good!
What do you think about the questions about writer's block just above? I would love to hear your take.

7/15/2018 07:36:54 am

Mark,
I don’t believe in writer’s block. If I am going to label myself a writer, then I should shut myself away, sit down and go to it. However, I do encounter days when the writing does not take place, and there are legitimate reasons it doesn’t happen. Here are a few examples.

Employment: after working two or three twelve-hour night shifts consecutively, I’m exhausted physically and mentally – I need rest.

No time to write: sometimes life gets in the way causing my writing time to fall to the bottom of the list. My husband and I are in the process of selling our house and buying a new one. For the last two weeks, the tasks related to our move have made my writing time drop in priority, and that’s okay. When it’s all said and done, my life improves, and I will resume writing with a renewed zest.

Fear: of rejection; that my writing is not good enough. The only cure I have for this is perseverance.

I call it as I see it and keep on writing.

7/15/2018 10:54:31 am

Rachel, you are so right, many times the real world crashes our plans! You do need to take care of yourself first, night shift work is hard when you have a day life. All that house stuff is pretty important also.
Do you have multiple writing projects on your plate or do you have only one at a time?
What do you think are the worst publishing practices out there that you would warn new writers about?

7/15/2018 05:35:27 pm

I agree with Rachel. It's all about perseverance. New York Times Best Selling author Jodi Thomas told me: Triumph comes through perseverance.

Author Gina Hooten Popp (we took a class together at Jodi's Writers Academy) gave me a gift and inside the box lid, she artistically wrote those words. That sweet little thing is tacked to my bulletin board by my desk so I can see it anywhere in my office.

"Triumph come through perseverance."

Smiles,

Linda Joyce

7/15/2018 05:44:31 pm

I love that, it applies to all areas of life. You are never beaten until you give up! I am reminded of the financial crash of '08, even though paper value of investments went way down, if you didn't sell then you got it all back and more!
I love the quote attributed to Winston Churchill, "If you find yourself in hell, don't stop." Or something like that.

7/16/2018 04:46:03 pm

Mark,
I am juggling three projects at present.
I am making preparations to release my third novel by summer’s end. It is my first self-published book. Readers can look for it mid-September.
I am nearing the completion of a short story. It will be part of a Christmas anthology due out later this year.
Lastly, I am trying to complete a manuscript, the first book in a series, my first attempt at writing a series. It is about four grown siblings, two women and two men, all with musical careers. Each is drawn home for different reasons to the coastal town where they grew up. I am hoping to pitch the series at a conference this fall.

I loathe fake contest and award profiteers. They intend to make money, not to honor writers and their achievements.
Things to watch for, newbie writers: solicitation, high entry fees, lots of entry categories, anonymous judging, opportunity to spend more of your money.
Go with your gut and remember – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

7/16/2018 05:03:39 pm

Thank you, Rachel, for sharing about your projects, it sounds like you are working hard.
That is some great advice for the newbies! There are a lot of scammers out there, they will promise the sky to get money.
One more question. if you have time.
How do you balance the demands of writing with having a life and relationships?

7/16/2018 07:05:09 pm

Mark,

I think the important word in your question is “balance.” We all have to define it for ourselves. Conflict arises when we define it one way and someone in our life defines it differently. I may think I’m in balance, my life is harmonious, but my husband may contradict that notion. That’s where negotiation and compromise play a heavy-duty role.

How do I do balance? LOL Well, there’s an implied assumption that I accomplish it. Honestly, I don’t think about it a whole lot. I keep a to-do list in a small spiral notebook. I prioritize the list and try to work through it. For me, balance is fluid, not a constant state of being. Issues come up, conflict rears its head, and I try to go with the flow. My mantra is: I always work to do my best. My best looks different on different days, yet, it’s still my best.

Thank you so very much for allowing the authors of Love Around The Table to share about the book and ourselves. We appreciate your support.

Warmest Regards,

Linda Joyce

7/16/2018 07:22:10 pm

Thank you, Linda, and thank you to all the others who helped make this interview interesting.
Your comments about balance show a lot of wisdom, we do have to constantly adjust our actions and our expectations to fit the situation. It certainly isn't static, it is very vibrant and alive as we are.
Thanks again for letting me help promote this wonderful collection of short stories, I hope a lot of people buy it to help support the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Atlanta, Georgia.

7/18/2018 02:48:42 pm

Mark,
I don’t balance as much as prioritize. This comes from years of being a nurse. I must assess my patients’ needs and decide the order in which I will render care. If the stability of one of those patients declines, I must rethink the sequence of caregiving, and sometimes, I must ask for help to assure all patients receive the proper care they deserve.
It’s no different with my life and relationships. I’m an orchestrator of lists. Lists that help keep me focused. On my master list for the week, I attempt to fit everything that needs doing. Consulting my list each day and reprioritizing as necessary keeps me focused and able to accomplish probably 90% of my weekly goals.
I do figure in time to write four days out of seven (I work three-night shifts each week). But sometimes I can’t write because other tasks have a higher urgency – like selling and buying houses and moving! I must note that I have a loving husband who supports my need to shut myself away when necessary and write for long periods of time. Also, my family has dealt with my day-sleeping for decades, and we have a system to keep me from being disturbed, so I get the rest I need to live my unconventional life.

I appreciate it when readers visit my website. http://rachelwjones.com
Here is a link to one of my books. http://www.amazon.com/Dance-One-More-Day-ebook/dp/B00L2EASUU/

Thank you for your questions, Mark, and the opportunity to share about myself and my writing.

Love Around the Table A collection of Short Stories Organized by Linda Joyce

Leave a Reply.

Who am I?

Archives

Categories