Dear friends, don’t worry, this isn’t a confession. Net yet… What I did (this week) is finish those edits. My memoir manuscript (just about there, I hope…) is off for a final read through with a massive ‘Thank You’ to my wonderful editor, Esther Chilton.
Being a memoir, you would think it would be easy to get it down and just write it. Beginning. Middle. End. Sorted. No characters to dream up, no plot to invent and no twists to develop, because they’re already there. But the structure as told using the elements of fiction proved a mighty challenge to this writer.
The beginning proved the biggest challenge of all. The end, as it turned out, came easily but not until the very end. And the title didn’t come to me until two years in after finally getting down the first draft.
My ‘final’ draft sent for editing last November had a couple of confusing timelines. Easy to fix, I thought, except it then meant hunting for other parts needing fixing a few chapters back. Or forward. Not to mention some important details I had left out.
For me, I’ve discovered, the best way to get the job done is to binge write. That means all day every day and everything else slides. But I wouldn’t recommend it: my eyes are blurred, my back aches and my brain is fried. No matter. Whispering those three little words to you now makes it all worth it. Can I say them again? I Dit It.
As always, thank you so much to those who’ve kept in touch on and off blog, and allowing me the luxury of talking endlessly about my book and its process. It helps, a lot!
Next week, time to catch up. Meanwhile, wonderful Sally Cronin is featuring the second of four of my archive memoir posts at her fab blog, Smorgasbord Blog Magazine. I wrote The Great British Staycation And A Brew Up California Style in July, 2013, after six months blogging and a couple of months into my book.
A lot’s happened since then, but it’s lovely knowing Sally all that time as one of the very first bloggers I followed. I also had the very great pleasure of meeting her at the Annual Bloggers Bash 2017. Huge thanks to Sally for her amazing support to me and bloggers everywhere.
Have a great weekend, all, and see you next week.
Love Sherri x
Congratulations Sherri. I look forward to reading it someday. Have a great weekend.
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Hi Tieshka! How wonderful to hear from you…I’ve been so out of the loop with blogging for some time now. Wonderful to know you’re still here, too! Look forward to a catch up of your news! Thank you so much, you have a great weekend too 🙂
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Thank you so much for the lovely mention Sherri… enjoy this weekend.. love and hugs Sally ♥
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get you girl… wonderful stuff; this is getting v exciting…
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Thanks so much, Geoff!! Looking forward to catching up at the BB!
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Congratulations, Sherri. You must feel a sense of relief and also pride. 😘🤗👏🏻
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Thank you so much, Sylvia! I certainly do…still some work ahead to get it off for publication, but let’s see what happens! 🙂 ❤ xxx
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Well done Sherri x
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Hi Alison! Thank you so much! Will be in touch very soon… 🙂 ❤ xxx
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Well done, Sherri. Esther edited my new book too and I was thrilled with her feedback.
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Esther is wonderful, isn’t she, so professional with excellent feedback. Thank you so much, Robbie! ❤
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Good for you, Sherri!
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Thank you so much, Sue! ❤
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💕
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Congratulations, Sherri. I’m so looking forward to reading this.
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Thank you so much, Mary! ❤
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My comment disappeared – probably gone to your spam box *sigh*. Congratulations.
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Oh, now they’re both appeared. I’ll shut up and go away.
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Got ’em both, Mary…and nowhere near spam, phew. My comments do that sometimes, no idea why. And don’t go ever go away!!!!
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Fantastic! I’ve not commented much but I’ve been around. Happy for you, darlin 😍💕
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You’re here, Jo, I know it ❤ Thank you so much for all your support all these years, lovely lady 🙂 xxx
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Home, after a drama with the cases. Weary but so happy 🙂 🙂 Hugs, darlin!
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Oh dear, hope you’ve got them and they’re not half way around the world. So glad you had a wonderful time, Jo. Hugs back, lovely! 🙂 xxx
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Saved us a job actually, Sherri, because we had airport bus and then train back to Tavira. The cases were delivered to our home last night. Two lots of washing done this morning. One already dry ☺ xx
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Oh that’s good…a silver lining! Love it when that happens, and glad it all ‘came out in the wash’, so to speak (groan, I know…!) xxx
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😆😆
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Congratulations, Sherri. Hooray, you did it! Yes, I remember November. Wow, it’s June now, but you had other things going on also. It doesn’t matter, you did it!! ❤
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Thank you so much, Miriam! Yes…it’s been a long haul getting to this stage, far longer than I intended, but it’s happened at last. Hooray it is!!! 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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I’m happy for you, Sherri.💖😊
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So kind of you, thank you so much, Miriam 🙂 ❤
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YOu’re welcome, Sharri. ❤ 🙂
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🙂 ❤
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🙂 🙂
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Absolutely ecstatic for you dear Sher. Looking soooooooooooooooooo forward to reading your new baby!!! ❤ Weekend hugs my friend. ❤ xoxox
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Thank you soooooooooooo much, Deb! Soon that will be the next nerve wracking part…releasing my baby into the world…eeeeeeeekkkk!! Post weekend hugs to you, my friend, for a great week ahead! 🙂 ❤ 🙂 xoxo
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Thanks my friend. And I look forward to having you and your book over to my blog!!!! ❤ xxx
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Oh I can’t wait, Deb…what a wonderful day that will be, I will be so honoured, thank you so much, my friend! 🙂 ❤ xoxo
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You know it! ❤ xxxx
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Yay!!! 🙂 ❤ 🙂 xxxx
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Kudos and congratulations to you, lovely lady!!
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Thank you so much, Liz! ❤
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Congratulations Sherri. That’s awesome. And looking forward to seeing you at the bash! Woohoo!!!
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Thank you so much, Marje! Not long now, so looking forward to seeing you again, woohoo is right!!!!! 🙂 ❤ xxx
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Yay!!! Xxx ❤
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😀 ❤ xxx
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Well done you! Such dedication and commitment and sheer hard work! Must be such a relief to finish and be able to relax. You are able to relax aren’t you? Maybe in your new garden with a nice cold bottle of bubbly 🍾🥂🎉
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Hey Jude! I have indeed relaxed this weekend, which included a lovely walk along the coastal path at Lulworth Cove in Dorset, a place dear to my heart from way back. The weather was beautiful despite the grim forecast. And I did indeed enjoy a lovely drink in our new garden, which is coming along well (will get some pics here soon, I hope…) although not so much with some bubbly but a lovely long G&T with mint from the garden 🙂 I bet your garden is coming on beautifully. Looking forward to catching up with you, long overdue. Thank you so much for all your wonderful support all these years, Jude…the Summerhouse wouldn’t be the same without you 🙂 ❤ xxx
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Many congratulations Sherri, I’m very glad you did it 🙂
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Thank you so much, Andrea! Some work to go but getting ever closer! Your support all these years has meant so much to me… 🙂 ❤
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Woohoo, Sherri. Congratulations. How wonderful. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Norah! Your ongoing support has been so wonderful…SMAG!!! 🙂 ❤ xxx
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SMAG!!!!!
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😀
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Dearest Sherri, I’m proud of you and today my internet is actually working so I can sign into WP to comment! Yes, the techno-devil has been busy harrassing me yet again, plus endless life exigencies getting in the way of constructive progress on my front. And no, I haven’t managed to keep my side of our pact, which was for both of us to finish our edits by the end of May. I’m on page 150 of 281 pages, which is better than nothing but doesn’t get even a quarter of the way to matching your huge success. Absolutely well done, and now you must take a hard-earned rest to get your PC-induced square eyes back to oval ones! We’ll speak soon, my clever, hard-working friend. And I did so enjoy our wonderful meet-up, so am hoping we can manage another one sometime over the summer. Lots of love, hugs and kisses, Sarah xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Dearest Sarah, it’s wonderful to hear from you and equally wonderful to see you again, though I’m so sorry to hear of your derailments. You know I know all about those…and as for that techno-devil…be gone! Take care, my friend, and I’ll email very soon to catch up properly. Lots of love, hugs and kisses to you… ❤ xxxxxxxxxx
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Dearest Sherry, finally over two months later I’m responding to your reply to my comment. I hope everything is going well for you since we last spoke. Am looking forward to your email and having a look at your opening chapters. Lots of love, hugs and kisses xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Dearest Sarah, so lovely to find your cheery comment this Monday morning. I do apologise profusely for not emailing you yet…not for lack of will, I can assure you. Things strumming along as they do, the hours disappearing into nowhere as I work on my memoir submission, researching agents, perfecting my synopsis, ‘elevator pitch’ and all that. Narrowing it all down, slow but sure 🙂 It was so lovely to chat recently. Hope things continue to improve for you…excited about your book entry! Saw you had a post come through…will head over asap! Look out for for my email later today! Lots of love, hugs and kisses xxxxxxxxxxxx
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That’s amazing, Sherri! I am so excited to read it soon! Will you be at the BB this year?
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Thank you so much, Ali and yes, I will see you in a few days time,. woohoo!!! 🙂 ❤ xxx
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Yaaay! So glad about that… maybe a cocktail or two after???🍹🤭
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For sure! 🙂 ❤
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Well Done! 🙂
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Thank you so much, Carol! 🙂
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Well done, Sherri. Now I can’t wait to have a copy of your book in my hands.
Looking forward to seeing you at the Bloggers Bash next week. Has it really been over a year?
See you on Saturday.
xx
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Hi Hugh! Thank you so much for all your wonderful support. I’ve been ensconsed, hence my long absence, but it got the job done at last, hooray!!!! Yes…just a few days, can’t wait! Look forward to seeing you on Saturday! 🙂 ❤ xxx
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This is a profound achievement you have done an amazing job!!
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Couldn’t have done it without you, MikeM. Thank you so much for everything… 🙂 ❤ ❤ ❤
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It was great to read these words – and I look forward to getting my copy!
And I agree about the binging to get a project where it needs to be –
Oh mon amie – congrats again and sending a big high five – and talk to you soon
☀️🙏📚🌸💛
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Thank you so much, mon amie! You do me great honour and you know what this took and that whole binge writing thing… we’ll high five for sure on several counts! I’m slowly unfurling lol. Talk soon for sure 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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And let me know how I can help
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Absolutely, will do mon amie and I will be in touch soon! 🙂 ❤
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Love ya so much ☀️😊🌸
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Back at ya, mon amie 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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You have worked so hard and diligently on your book, Sherri, and you plowed through the final stretch. I’m so glad you are working with Esther; it’s vital to have a rock-solid editor. I’m so proud of you for hanging in there through all of life’s travails. I’m in awe that you can write a memoir — the capacity of memory and processing emotion over time is no easy feat. Making up characters is easier, lol! I can’t wait to hear how the next steps to publish go. Much love to you!
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Thank you so much, Charli! Esther is indeed a rock-solid editor and your rock- solid support, encouragement and feedback has helped me over that finish line in more ways than you know. You waved the flag and I kept my eyes fixed! Not to mention putting up with my angst! And the confidence you inspire in me through flash fiction and the way it helps my rewrites. Because of you, I found Fred! Now he is one character I’m looking forward to expanding lol! Memoir is not easy, but I’ve not written a novel so can’t compare. I’m hoping it will be easier certainly on the emotional front. Reliving it all at the outset is one thing, but having to structure it all and revisit it over and over takes its toll, that’s for sure. I found processing it all in the small hours helped me work out some difficult parts and the way I needed to express it, but it wrecked my sleep…though there wasn’t much to wreck to begin with 😀 Whoever said writing is good for you? Did anyone? Yet here we are. And so to the next step…one word, one day at a time, right? Much love to you, my friend! 🙂 ❤
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Great news, Sherri. Looking forward to hearing more at the Bash in a few days.
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Thanks so much, Graeme. Yes, not long now…looking forward to a good catch up, see you soon!
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Sherri! All that hard work is paying off!! 1 more step closer! ❤
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Thank you so much, Melinda…getting there! 🙂 ❤
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❤
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Congratulations, Sherri! I look to reading your memoir when it’s published 🙂
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Thank you so much, Marie, that means so much to me! 🙂 ❤
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I’m really proud of you! It’s been an epic write for you but you did it and its great that you have overcome it. I thought I had a challenge tying to proofread books in two days, that is bad enough but you have really suffered for your words!
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Aww thank you so much, my friend. I take my hat off to you proofreading in such a short timescale, so much pressure! But yes, I do feel it’s been one epic journey to get this memoir finished, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your amazing support through it all. Next stop: preparing to seek agent representation and publication. I am bracing myself… 😉
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The madness will no doubt begin and again, but in a better way. If you never need me I am always a round, and in the same time zone at the moment, which is a novelty.
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Yikes…sounds like things have been pretty crazy for you… Indeed…thank you, ‘old’ friend, that’s good to know… take care.
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Well done, I can’t wait to buy it. You are right, writing every day helps, when you can get into the groove, which I have yet to do. You are an inspiration!
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Thank you so much, Denise. You helped me with my blurb five years ago…can you believe it? Just got the last read through with last edits back, so will get to those and ready for submission to publication…gotta do it! The longer the gaps inbetween those writing binges, the harder I found it to pick it up again, but I processed in my head constantly. Still am…when I stop, I know it’ll be truly finished…almost!! Lovely to hear from you as always, Denise, hope you and your LDs are all doing well 🙂 ❤
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Oh Sherri, I missed this post. I was watching my granddaughter for 10 days while my daughter and her hubby went to Iceland. After that, I took time to rest.
I remember last year when you sent your memoir to the editor and everything happened from that time until this point. What a accomplishment, Sherri, to say “I did it.”
I look forward to see your book.
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Thank you so much, Miriam, and no worries at all. I know you’ve had a lot going on and it’s been busy this end too. I’m still tweaking and polishing and working on submitting as you know from my other reply. I want to try that route first. But yes, I did it indeed! Phew…still can’t believe it but also it’s been a bit wierd as I felt a bit flat afterwards. All that adrenaline…but I’m picking up again now and forging ahead. A long journey that’s for sure. And I haven’t forgotten about having you guest post at the Summerhouse. I have been mostly guest posting myself thanks to a couple of unexpected invites, and what with the busyness of summer, havn’t had much chance to do much else. I will be messaging you soon to chat about it and see what suits us both best, but I am determined to get you over here at some point though it will be fall now! Take care, Miriam, and have a wonderful weekend and again, thank you so much for your support. Really appreciate it 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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I totally understand, Sherri. After I published my poetry, I needed to rest for two months and longer. But mine is different, I go to a poetry class and had feedback along the way and have beat readers and editors along the way. Poetry is different, so the process was not as draining.
Since I did the formatting myself and used the index finger extensively and constantly for two months of formatting, now my right arm suffers carpal tunnel problem. Nothing is torn according to the orthopedist. The occupational therapy didn’t help too much either. Now I just have to take it easy for computer use, reduce blogging time, do massaging. It may take as long as a year to heal, according to my experience with the left arm.
No hurry to have me guess-post on your blog. I got two offers to translate the book into Spanish and Portuguese, so I’m working with the translation company. I would like to spend some time on it right now. I’ll do more promotion of my book once it was translated.
Take care, Sherri. Have a relaxing weekend. ❤ 🙂 ❤
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I am coming to the conclusion that writing and all it entails can be health damaging if we’re not careful! After my huge binge writing session last year to get it to my editor by November, I I felt awful, took months to recover. The mental side of it too (being memoir) was rough too, having to keep revisiting the past over and over to get it just right. I got way too burned out. I’m pacing myself now and glad to hear you are too and taking time to recover. Wow, what a great translatiion job, congratulations! You are busy for sure and with your upcoming travels, too. All the best with everything, Miriam and we’ll catch up where we can. It was a wonderfully relaxing weekend, thank you, and hope for you too and a great week ahead 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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Thank you, Sherri. I’m packing for the short cruise, just make sure I don’t forget the few important things. And I look so much forward to see my granddaughter. Yes, we’ll catch up soon. ❤ ❤
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Have a fab time, Miriam! I’m going to be taking a couple of weeks off from blogging to celebrate my ‘big’ birthday with my family and friends, so yes, we’ll definitely catch up soon…happy autumn, my friend! 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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I’m back, Sherri. Happy birthday to your big birthday. Are you turning 30? 🙂 ❤
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Welcome back, Miriam, hope you had a lovely time and thanks so much! Ha…too right…that’s my story and I’m sticking to it, lol! 😀 ❤ ❤
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Well, I’ll be on the road again. Going for a week first week of October, to my granddaughter’s second birthday party. Second week of October, going to Maui for a little longer than a week.
What publisher do you have for your book? ❤ ❤
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Wow…you are one busy traveller, Miriam! I’ve been enjoying lots of family/friend gatherings and have some upcoming short trips with the grown children…it’s hard trying to knuckle down to work but I really do need to now. I don’t have a publisher yet, I’m submitting to agents for representation. If that doesn’t pan out, I’ll look at smaller presses. I will keep you posted! Have a good week, my friend 🙂 ❤
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Do keep me posted. It’s hard to do marketing on my own. I have good reviews for my book and got the New Apple award, waiting for the certificate and medallion. I’ll seek publisher to take over my book. I know I’ll just get a percentage of the sales. ❤
Have a wonderful week. ❤
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I will, Miriam. That sounds wonderful, many congratulations on your award and all the best for your search for a publisher. Thank you, and you have a wonderful week too 🙂 ❤
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I’ll hear from you, Sherri. Have a nice week. ❤ 🙂
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Thanks, Miriam…you too! 🙂 ❤
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You’re welcome, Sherri!💖😊
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🙂 ❤ 🙂
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💖💖
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