22 Comments
User's avatar
Mary-Lou Toop's avatar

I love the title for #1! But I think probably your Mum's story is the one I'd like to read, - there are tantalising glimpses in 'How I Overcame ...' They're all great though- are you sure it'll be just the one more book?? 🤔 😂 xx

Rose's avatar

What is it like eating peanuts, just one will never do?!

Rose's avatar

Yes, I do think my mother's story would make pretty good fiction, but seeing as I've never written fiction, I am a bit daunted by it all.

Tales from a butterfly brain's avatar

Take the praise, Rose, you’ve earned it.

As for book number two, I think I’d like to hear more about growing up on the prairies. There is much to include: farming issues, weather, family life, schooling, fifties prairie mindset, hopes and dreams, friends.

Rose's avatar

Thanks for that Janet. You and my first developmental editor also wanted to hear about growing up on the prairies. I'm not sure I have enough to go on to make a book of it, but it certainly is worth considering.

Jessica Rosenberg's avatar

Writing a book is so all consuming, isn't it? I somehow moved while writing my last one and I have no idea what I packed or where it all ended up. It's all a total blur.

Congratulations on your book!!

Rose's avatar

Thank you so much for your comment Jessica! To be honest, I'm surprised how many people are reading this particular post, as I didn't think it was anything special. Maybe a lot of people have had this experience? Who knows? So you MOVED while writing a book? I take my hat off to you and officially name you Super Woman! My book is I ATE EVERYTHING BUT THE NAPKINS: HOW I OVERCAME OVEREATING. Of course, it happened when I was 20, young and incredibly foolish, but I did overcome the urge to eat my own weight at a single sitting. And the overeating never came back.

Joanne Tracey's avatar

I find that run to the end is a race to get the words down before they go away, which means everything suffers in those couple of weeks. Hey ho. I reckon it's like long haul travel and having babies - you forget the pain until you're in it again. Oh wait, I only did have one baby lol.

Rose's avatar

Thanks for your comment, Joanne! I think for myself, it was the endless details of finalizing the book's production and its snags and delays. Plus getting scammed when I went to order my author copies for the book launch. That left a sour taste, I can assure you! Yes, I did feel like I was in the delivery room with this "baby" for about 4 years. It seemed to be at the "almost done" stage for eons! But, hopefully I will recover my momentum and be at it again. It's just taking longer than I expected to get over the whole experience!

judith barrow's avatar

Being a fiction author, I'd like to read your mum's story. Of course you'd need to reserch the background, but what fun !!

Rose's avatar

Thanks Judith! Yes, I do think my mother's story would be a good read, but in order to do it, I think I would have to crawl into her personality, and I'm not sure I want to do that. Plus, of course, never having written fiction would probably also be a hinderance! But it is worth considering for a future date.

Beverley Fry's avatar

I guess you don't really want to relive the memoir publishing journey?

For everyone it will be different but its kind you'd like to be helpful.

Though life on the Canadian praries could be fascinating you didn't reckon you'd have enough but it could be researched I guess.

A fiction of your Mums story felt like a distinct possibility and had enthusiasm when you posed it.

I like the idea of your researching for it and you being imaginative in the telling too.

And it'll bring in so much that people will relate to and that time in history is both near and far and was dramatic.

I reckon its a good thing to have complete focus sometimes.

And it's essential to complete difficult tasks.

I make painting a priority because its good for me to do it. It is my gift.

The small stuff gets done, its not a priority, your hedge will be there after you've gone and it is recovering well.

You are here now, take risks, have a new adventure Rose.

Rose's avatar

Many thanks, Miss Beverley! I guess I'm just trying to "fill the gap" left by finishing the book. It was such an all-encompassing experience, once it's done, there's sort of a dazed look of "now what?" Of course, the answer to that is, marketing! And discovering what to do next. The thing with a big project like this, especially writing, I think you can never really take your foot off the gas!

According to Mimi's avatar

The fiction book based on the life of your mom sounds like a page turner! I'm happy that you're contemplating the next chapter of your chapters.

Rose's avatar

Many thanks Mimi! Yes, but it's quite a big step at the moment, from contemplation to gearing up and actually doing something productive. It seems there are lots of loose ends to tie up with the finishing off of the book project, and then into marketing in "full steam ahead" mode. With marketing, so many avenues might work, and some cost money, and some may (or may not) be people fishing for suckers. The thing with marketing is it is an endless project. There's always something more that could have been done!

According to Mimi's avatar

This sounds dreadful! I don't know if I'm up for this task. You've done really well, so far. Please keep writing about your journey.

Rose's avatar

Don't worry. No one is "up for it" unless it is their job and they're getting paid for it. At least that seems the be the consensus with every writer I've ever met. They'd all sooner have primitive dentistry than do marketing. Thanks for asking me to keep writing. You'll never know how good that sounds to a tired ear!

According to Mimi's avatar

Primitive dentistry...that's funny!

alison counselling's avatar

She is witty , intelligent honest and perceptive.

Rose's avatar

Sounds like my type of person!

alison counselling's avatar

Writing about your mother or how to write a memoir.I find your writing very similer yo Betty MacDonald.

Rose's avatar

Thank you so much for your vote! To Betty MacDonald? Sorry, I'm not familiar with her. Does she write fiction?