There’s good news and bad this time around. Let’s get the bad news over with first. Despite my promise to publish the audio version of The Importance of Paris memoir, in time to link it in this issue of the newsletter, that is not going to happen. Sorry to disappoint those who’ve been waiting so patiently but I’m the most disappointed, I can assure you!

After I carefully read the entire book, all 18 hours of audio recordings had to be thrown away. A glitch with the sound quality could not be fixed. In technical terms, the “noise floor” was too high.

Now for the good news, we’ve bought better equipment, and started all over again. We hope to have it ready by next newsletter. I’ve told myself it’s a Renewal lesson, just like surviving so many drafts. Each time I needed to believe the book was done, but realized it could be better, and then rewrote it. This is not the fun part of Renewal, yet those iterations resulted in a better book, and convinced me it was worth all the effort.

Writing News

As I hibernate near the woodstove in our log cabin in the snowy woods, the next memoir is spinning into shape. The first twenty pages are almost ready for delivery to our new Book Writers group. The members must have them by January 15th so they can prepare to give me their feedback at the following meeting.

If you want to get your book done in 2020, contact me, and join us. I may be biased, but believe our beta readers are the best.

The Measuring Distances poetry book is percolating along, with a Spring Equinox release date target, thanks to the magic mojo of my graphic designer/editor extraordinaire Gigie Hall.

We’ll soon share some exciting news about The Wisdom Wheel Way project too.

Events

I’m holding off on publicity appearances till spring and will resume Memoir Writing Workshops on Wednesday April 1. Reserve your seat for these one-day events as we only have room for six people each time. In response to your requests, we have added weekday dates and weekends. Please see complete 2020 schedule here.

Ceremonies

Next Purification Lodge ceremony is Sunday, February 2, 2020, 10 a.m. at HOPE HOUSE in Hope Valley, Rhode Island. Contact me for more details and click here for the full 2020 schedule.

So much to celebrate as this new season arrives! Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Yule Time, Happy Hanukah, and Merry Christmas, plus a hearty Happy New Year. Let’s hope 2020 grants us perfect clarity of vision to see our resolutions through.

And Happy Birthday to all the Capricorns! According to the Wisdom Wheel, we’ve just entered the Renewal time of year, which corresponds to their star sign, on the matching sky wheels of astrology.

Writing News

When temperatures fall, and the snow starts piling up (in our hemisphere), it’s time for hibernation. Uninterrupted peace and quiet makes Renewal possible. I am downshifting until spring. Doing less marketing and publicity in the outer world, so there’s more inner room for the regenerative work of writing. The next memoir is slowly taking shape and must have priority. The initial pages of the first draft received encouraging feedback this week at our brand new Book Writers group. Contact me if you want to join us and get your book done in 2020.

Publishing News

The completed audio version of The Importance of Paris is undergoing its final mastering before we upload it to Amazon Audible. I had hoped to have it available by Christmas but it will be ready to link to in our first newsletter of the New Year.

Stay tuned for the release date of the Measuring Distances poetry book.

Events

Memoir Writing Workshops will resume on Wednesday April 1. In response to your requests, we have added weekday dates and weekends. Please see complete 2020 schedule here.

Ceremonies

Next Purification Lodge ceremony is on the morning of January 1, 2020, New Year’s Day. That’s a Wednesday. 10 a.m. at HOPE HOUSE in Hope Valley, Rhode Island. Contact me for more details and click here for the full 2020 schedule.