A friend of mine gave me this quotation from Charles Bukowski and it has led me to reflect upon this past year. Today is the first day that I feel settled into my new life: new house with view over farmland all the way to Tussey Ridge; blue hydrangeas waiting to be planted; kids falling into summer routines; the ice cream truck coming down our street; my mom having survived several near-death experiences this spring; our dog lying beside me as I write these words. I feel grateful to everyone who has helped me get through the past twelve months.
It is time to start looking ahead: my first volume of poetry, "Cheap Grace," is in print, available both from www.finishinglinepress.com and amazon; my first novel, "Through Your Hands," is also available through amazon, both hard and soft cover. I am planning to unpack my first study of my own tomorrow. The walls are red, the writing desk and bookcase left for me by the previous owner. I am excited to begin my new writing days.
After reading "Cheap Grace" I was eager to begin "Through Your Hands" which has not disappointed. Heather, your writing beautifully creates vivid, visual images that describe the story layer by layer. Now that my house is quiet after week-long guests, I will be reading through the night. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJust to say Oh good, I'm so glad, I wanted to send you something - here's a quote from a poem by Marie Howe (from From Nowhere)
ReplyDeleteBut this morning, a kind day has descended, from nowhere,
and making coffee in the usual way, measuring grounds
with the wooden spoon, I remembered,
this is how things happen, cup by cup, familiar gesture
after gesture, what else can we know of safety
or of fruitfulness? We walk with mincing steps within
a thaw as slow as February, wading through currents
that surprise us with their sudden warmth...