December 10 – Giving in Paradise (California)

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I wonder how the people we saw in Chico and at the fairgrounds are doing now. When are the checks coming? How many are with relatives? How do you cope as the loss sinks in? How many have still not been found?

One Woman's Day

By B. Lynn Goodwin

Volunteers matter—especially when emergencies come up. At the Butte County Fairgrounds in November my husband and I found a mixture of hope and despair, of gratitude and anguish.

We couldn’t get near “Paradise Lost,” as reporters dubbed the Northern California town ravaged by fire, so we went to the tent cities at the Butte County Fairgrounds and the parking lot next to Walmart.  We found unparalleled need along with volunteers helping those who’d lost everything but their lives.

My husband and I took a huge stack of $50 gift cards donated by people in our church.  We followed the suggestion of a church guest, who returned to Paradise on weekends. He was there with his wife, who barely made it out ahead of the flames. They’d lost their home but had each other. He said, “Take gift cards and give them directly to the people.” My…

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Giveaway

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B. Lynn Goodwin

Here’s a quiet giveaway for the e-book version of

Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62.

Go to https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/2fa33846b918dfd7#ln-dei and you stand a good chance of winning a copy of Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62. The giveaway ends November 2.

Even if you’ve read the book, you can pay it forward to a friend, a library, a senior center, a book club, or anyone who claims she can’t find that right person. Maybe you can help your friend reinvent the meaning of “right person.”

And why is this a quiet giveaway? I haven’t acquired skills in promoting it. So if you see this, why not give it a try.

There is hope for anyone seeking a life partner. I am living proof of it.

Enter the giveaway today.

https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/2fa33846b918dfd7#ln-dei

da328f_f76ae4a077a242b09d8edcfd8b5af27d~mv2NeverTooLate

Seeking Support for your writing?

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“No one, and I mean no one, writes alone in an attic with no support. Think about it: in order to stay in an attic all day doing your thing, someone has to shop, cook and clean for you, do the laundry, bring you new supplies. If we’ve heard of a writer, someone edited and published them. Someone bought the books.

“My point is: the myth of the lonely artist serves none of us. If you have a dream to write, get a buddy, take a class, find a group, or get support to find alone time if that is what you need.” — Elizabeth Stark

Real life doesn't have a script.
What are you searching for?

So how do you find the support you need? Check out the following resources:

Hippocampus Magazine

Story Circle Network

International Women’s Writing Guild

Shut Up and Write

National Novel Writing Month

National Association of Memoir Writers

Writer Advice

The resources are out there and many stories sit inside your head, waiting to be told. Writer Advice has a manuscript consultation service, which I run, and I also teach Independent Study, working one-on-one with you and your writing, through Story Circle Network. Why face the blank page alone when there are resources to help you?

You can see a sample of my writing in the free section of Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 here.

B. Lynn Goodwin

Goodbye, Sweet Friend

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Your spirit will live on until we join you.
Every time I’m afraid to make an outrageous request, I’ll think of you and find the courage to do it.

Twenty Minutes a Day: A Step Towards a Balanced Life

My friend Devorah Winegarten died today after a short and intense battle with cancer.  She was one of my Circle Sisters, which is what we call our fellow writers at Story Circle Network. She and I were in a daily Internet group where we shared our victories and challenges related to our works-in-progress. Debs, or the Debster as she often called herself, was a powerhouse of positive energy and forward motion. She set the pace for that group with clear challenges for herself and lots of encouragement for the rest of us to push forward through our fear and procrastination.  She was the queen of the outrageous request, modeling how asking for more than you think you’ll ever get can result in more yeses than nos. Yes, Debs had more energy, more focus and more excitement for life than most of the rest of us combined.

Debs and I were…

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The Hurrieder I Go . . .

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This is an observation, not a complaint. I love all the good things that are coming my way.

B. Lynn Goodwin

  • Awards for Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62
  • A new writing project — too soon to tell you about it
  • New editing jobs — through Story Circle Network and privately
  • More books to read — including three competing for the Sarton Award offered by Story Circle Network and a number sent by some excellent publishers
  • Submissions to Writer Advice’s Flash TRAVEL Contest, which I love reading and commenting about.-Read about it in the tan box at Writer Advice .
  • The next speaking engagement …
  • The light on the hills as the sun sets …
  • Thursday night dates with my husby, whose unexpected attention and love gave me the inspiration for Never Too Late.

R & Me

So, “the hurrieder I go, the behinder I get” (thank you Lewis Carroll) and I don’t publish here often. New things are coming soon. Sign up to be notified by putting your e-mail in the “Follow” box.

And if you are a writer, please check out Writer Advice’s Flash TRAVEL Contest.

 

Review of Never Too Late with a Different Flavor

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NeverTooLate

Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62

Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62

Reviewed By:

Gisela Dixon

Review Rating:

5 Stars – Congratulations on your 5-star review! Get your free 5-star seal!

Reviewed By Gisela Dixon for Readers’ Favorite

 

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Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 by B. Lynn Goodwin is a memoir of Lynn’s journey in her sixties as a single woman to getting married for the first time. Never Too Late starts with Lynn talking about her life and how she reached the age of 62, single, unmarried, and a virgin. After having told her dating history in brief up to this point, the rest of the book is devoted to her and Richard’s dating and relationship. Lynn was an established professional when she met Richard through Craigslist. He worked as an electrical contractor and was also a pastor at a church. Although their backgrounds and histories are very different—him being married twice before and with several adult children—they connect at some level and continue dating slowly but surely. This is the story of their relationship and how it evolves with its ups and downs.

Lynn is a very good writer and she has presented the story in Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 really well. The writing is candid and very engaging and she explains her thoughts and misgivings, especially regarding financial matters, every step of the way. I must admit that Richard’s character, although he does seem frank, is quite “traditionally Christian” where he truly believes he, being the head of household, ultimately has the final say in all decision-making after marriage. Although that idea would be impossible for me to stomach, Lynn appears to have made her peace with it and seems genuinely happy, so I was glad it worked out for her. In any case, whether one agrees with this couple’s specific beliefs or lifestyles or not, this is their mutual love story and makes for an interesting read.

 

I appreciate her balanced, genuine review, and of course I love any 5-star review. Any thoughts or opinions? 

Share Your Opinions: Why Book Reviews Matter and How You Can Help

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10-14 Hooked“Together we can change the world, one good deed at a time.”               ~~Anonymous

Share Your Opinions:

Why Book Reviews Matter and How You Can Help

 

Whether you’re an author or not, one of the kindest gifts you can give to any writer is a constructive honest review. It doesn’t have to be long or literary or quote specific passages unless you’re writing for a site that expects that.

Not only will your comments please the author, but your words might help her see her work in a whole new way. You’ll be helping readers who depend on reviews make a choice.  In addition your review could be a springboard for new writing for either of you. That’s good for everyone and a lot to get out of a few minutes of reacting to a story that grabbed you and/or made you think.

Quick, short reviews can be very effective—especially on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads. Simply tell why you recommend the book in one or two sentences. If you want to add plot summary, analysis of writing style, or who the ideal audience is, feel free. It’s nice but not necessary.

““Never Too Late is an honest, insightful look at one of life’s greatest mysteries: the ever changing and ever challenging relationship between a man and a woman. This book is one you won’t want to miss!” —Mary Eileen Williams, Host of Feisty Side of Fifty, author of Land the Job You Love!: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50

If you decide to write a more detailed review, start with the themes an author explores and then talk about how and why the story sheds new light on a familiar subject or opens your insights.  Often I start by articulating the questions that the author is exploring:

  • What if you have a gift that no one can accept?

  • Ever been puzzled by a partner’s behavior?

  • Ever wonder how others handle the costs of their bad decisions?

  • What happens when family and ambition compete?

  • What does it take to survive?

 

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Another approach is to tell people what the book intends to convey and how well it does its job. This works for a two-sentence review or a longer one.

I usually include a brief summary and identify the author’s strengths. If something bothers me I’ll mention it briefly as long as it’s not a story spoiler. If I can’t write something good and make the review at least 80% positive, I move on to the next book.

If you look at the reviews on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads, you’ll see that lengths vary. I’ve written one-sentence reviews and I’ve posted reviews of 350 words or more. Generally, less is more. Many people have short attention spans.

Once you’re satisfied with your review, it’s easy to cut and paste into Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads.

  • Go to the site where you want to place your review.

  • Find the search box.

  • Type the book title and/or author and hit return.

  • When the correct page comes up, scroll down to the box that says, “Write a Customer Review” or “Add a Review.”

  • Click on the box. Amazon asks some questions to guide you. Barnes & Noble doesn’t. You can simply rate the book and paste in your review, because you are prepared.

Often the sites will notify the author when a review is posted. Not always. It’s all controlled by algorithms beyond our control. Here’s what’s within your control:

  • You can write a review.

  • You can read other reviews as samples.

  • You can post a review.

You can practice on the last book you read. Or the one you’re just finishing. The authors will love you for it.

10-16 Announcements

Another way to help authors is to recommend their books to your friends, writing peers, and book groups. Word of mouth is excellent publicity. Paying it forward matters. Right or wrong, the number of reviews you have on Amazon also matters, so the important thing is to write honestly and share your thoughts. They’re just as valuable as anyone else’s. You never know where a review might lead. Doing book reviews is a great way for writers to build community.

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Not sure where to start? Not even reading a book right now? I’d be delighted to have you review my memoir about love, acceptance, and much more. It’s called Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62. 

It’s a quick, easy read, and I’m perfectly happy with either a short or long review, as long as it’s honest. You can post it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, or all three.