tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post5893360409385251966..comments2024-01-24T05:13:06.164-08:00Comments on Not Your Usual Suspects: A Friend Who Helped Me Face My FearsSusanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11286314155783213006noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-89505637774962163052013-04-25T05:40:27.484-07:002013-04-25T05:40:27.484-07:00Oh! He sees you and is so very proud. Thank you fo...Oh! He sees you and is so very proud. Thank you for sharing this story.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-78196964210315023432013-04-24T21:57:47.906-07:002013-04-24T21:57:47.906-07:00Hi, Ana! That's a really wonderful story. Good...Hi, Ana! That's a really wonderful story. Good friends are priceless -- as are good parents. When I announced that I planned to write a novel, my dad (after first saying, "Cool!") sat me down and told me how hard it would be to be successful but that if that's what I really wanted, I should go for it with all my heart and, above all, keep my sense of humor. So I did. Thanks, Dad! And thanks, Ana, for sparking the memories. : )Joycehttp://www.usatoday.com/blog/happyeverafter/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-40296169230576312362013-04-24T19:02:56.740-07:002013-04-24T19:02:56.740-07:00I hear you. Nothing like a great critique group to...I hear you. Nothing like a great critique group to keep you going!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00469273412182622279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-74727717306903267022013-04-24T17:35:55.702-07:002013-04-24T17:35:55.702-07:00My Mom was a great cheerleader too, though she did...My Mom was a great cheerleader too, though she didn't understand why I was writing romances, she was glad I was writing. <br /><br />She's passed now, but I've got a great critique group who won't give up on me - Thnx Joan, Joyce & Linda!<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-88749663836316744482013-04-24T14:10:16.121-07:002013-04-24T14:10:16.121-07:00What a lovely post, Ana, thanks for sharing! My gr...What a lovely post, Ana, thanks for sharing! My grandmother bought me most of my early YA books and fostered my love of reading and writing. And my Mum read some of my early publications - even if there were explicit m/m love scenes in it, bless her! - and always had encouraging feedback. Nana's gone now, and Mum's got dementia, but I think we laid such a good foundation for our family that it's built confidence for all the following generations.<br /><br />Now what about my hubby and adult sons who are proud of what I write - but more than faintly bemused?! LOLClare Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09392142798976142547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-9446854188416626622013-04-24T13:22:47.364-07:002013-04-24T13:22:47.364-07:00A moving, heartfelt story, Ana. Yes, I've had...A moving, heartfelt story, Ana. Yes, I've had a lot of support for my writing over the years from so many people, I really have to stop and think of all of them and why they chose to offer me encouragement. You've given me something wonderful to think about.jean harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04925805990806522316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-52772710332890199612013-04-24T13:12:06.299-07:002013-04-24T13:12:06.299-07:00Thank you, Toni. I guess we learn along the way no...Thank you, Toni. I guess we learn along the way not to take people for granted. They leave too soon.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00469273412182622279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-14389528194602312472013-04-24T13:10:51.615-07:002013-04-24T13:10:51.615-07:00Oh my goodness, that's a great story! Thank yo...Oh my goodness, that's a great story! Thank you for sharing! And thank you, Marcelle, for your comment. I appreciate it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00469273412182622279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-54705170620552196722013-04-24T13:09:58.750-07:002013-04-24T13:09:58.750-07:00Lovely story, Ana. It always hurts to lose people ...Lovely story, Ana. It always hurts to lose people we love and who inspire us. Toni Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08348843511453338339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-81293530806848271692013-04-24T13:02:31.570-07:002013-04-24T13:02:31.570-07:00A lovely tribute, Ana. I stagemanged a 100th anniv...A lovely tribute, Ana. I stagemanged a 100th anniversary tribute and when having dinner with the group had an extra glass of wine. Blurted to the playwright and his wife that I had written one and he read it. His encouragement led me to write others and later write non-fiction, short stories and my first book. Elise Warnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12111849185666548945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-37444965805672149522013-04-24T12:03:28.313-07:002013-04-24T12:03:28.313-07:00What a lovely tribute to your friend, Ana.
I'...What a lovely tribute to your friend, Ana.<br /><br />I'm still blessed with both my parents, and they are my best cheerleaders.Marcelle Dubéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18164965676254630066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-38784593328488735282013-04-24T11:19:40.066-07:002013-04-24T11:19:40.066-07:00Thank you, Anne Marie and Dee. I do feel that Jim ...Thank you, Anne Marie and Dee. I do feel that Jim and my mom are with me in spirit, and I often ask myself how they would like a particular scene or character. So far I've heard no complaints.. ;) And I do still have very supportive husband and sisters, and a great critique group cheering me on, but without Jim pushing me and convincing me that my first manuscript wasn't the pile of I thought it was, I might not have continued.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00469273412182622279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-55481918907254273712013-04-24T10:56:32.789-07:002013-04-24T10:56:32.789-07:00What wonderful memories of a great friend... Sorry...What wonderful memories of a great friend... Sorry for your loss, but I'm sure he's with you in spirit and so proud of you! My mom died before I even started writing, but I have a feeling she's watching me and maybe she's even a little proud too. Congrats on the new release! Dee J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12299652828227486747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-59802091405813239222013-04-24T07:50:29.034-07:002013-04-24T07:50:29.034-07:00Beautiful story, Ana. We all need cheerleaders in ...Beautiful story, Ana. We all need cheerleaders in our lives, right? :) For me, I suppose it's my husband. He helps me get time away from the kids to focus on my writing (and stay sane). He believes in me and it keeps me going. There are so many things in life I can face easier because he's there with me.Anne Marie Beckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17603878676306179018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-2636202043488633492013-04-24T06:30:30.383-07:002013-04-24T06:30:30.383-07:00Thanks, Cathy. It was my mother who started me rea...Thanks, Cathy. It was my mother who started me reading romances, when we were on vacation together in the White Mountains. When I started writing I couldn't give her chapters fast enough! Moms are great that way, aren't they?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00469273412182622279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-4409516612465212712013-04-24T06:21:16.198-07:002013-04-24T06:21:16.198-07:00I'm sorry your friend is gone. He sounds like ...I'm sorry your friend is gone. He sounds like a wonderful person. <br />When I finally inched out to show someone my first story, I turned to my daughter and my best friend. They didn't offer the critique you mentioned, but their encouragement ("when can I read the next chapter?") kept me going. <br />My mother was a reader and passed that love to all of her children. She died ten years ago, long before I started writing, but I can feel her smiling from heaven. <br />Congrats on your upcoming release!CathyPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04671747592743029540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-83032064770266136962013-04-24T04:21:24.386-07:002013-04-24T04:21:24.386-07:00Thanks for writing, Shelley. I'm sure your mot...Thanks for writing, Shelley. I'm sure your mother is very much on your mind this time of year. My mother was hugely supportive of my writing, but she died before I was published. I know she would have been proud of me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00469273412182622279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-61697260922706772432013-04-24T02:07:26.528-07:002013-04-24T02:07:26.528-07:00That's a great story, and congrats on your up...That's a great story, and congrats on your upcoming release. I don't really have a support story like that, although my parents were always very encouraging about careers. I like to think my Mum would be proud of my writing. She died suddenly when I was 21. That was in April too and a long time before I considered writing.Shelley Munrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03090469550227550713noreply@blogger.com