Happy new year, friends!
We all need help and support along the way. As we start 2024, I decided to reblog a post about the authors who helped me in my early days – before I published my first book, A Good Home.
First, Louise Penny. This Canadian author is known for her Inspector Gamache/Three Pines mysteries. Her lyrical, emotional, insightful writing has won several big awards and put her books on the New York Times bestseller list.
The day I discovered my first Louise Penny book was shortly after I’d turned in my latest feature for a magazine. That story – written several years before – was titled Possession. It was about the deeply rooted hunger to possess precious things. Louise’s book, The Brutal Telling, was about a deeply-rooted hunger to possess precious things. I was amazed by the serendipity.
Louise bravely explores that borderland place where the unexplained and the divine intersect with the here and now, the temporal. It’s something I try to do in some of my own writing.
But it was Louise’s own back story – and the similarities between her life and mine — that most surprised me.
We are, I discovered, both Ryerson graduates, both former CBC journalists. But that’s just the stuff that goes into resumes. As I read about her, I realized that we’d both also known what it was like to hit rock-bottom. I was still going through a harrowing fight against painful injuries from a car accident and the very painkillers that were meant to help me cope. Louise had fought a lengthy battle against alcoholism.
I took all these similarities as a sign from above – one of those borderland moments where the divine intersects with the temporal. It was time, I decided, to get serious about the book I’d started writing a long time ago. But first, I wrote to Louise herself.
“The publisher sent me the story layout for my final sign-off just one day before I started your book”, I wrote, referring to Possession, the magazine story, “and as I read your novel, I thought – with a shiver – ‘this is another of my life’s unexplained coincidences’.”
She wrote me back right away: “We seem like sisters,” she said. “I’m glad you’ve discovered my books – and suspect you are a gifted, fabulous writer.”
Such kind encouragement. Louise’s next email contained advice for me as a would-be author. Before you send your manuscript to a publisher or agent, she urged, polish, polish, polish. It’s your one chance, so make it the best it can be.
As I neared the completion of the manuscript, other authors helped.
Yvonne Blackwood, author of Into Africa: The Return, repeatedly helped me polish. She suggested small improvements throughout the text.
Lee Gowan, creative writing professor at the University of Toronto and author of Confession, paid me a precious compliment: he read the manuscript to his mother.
“It was a very moving experience, I can tell you,” Lee wrote. “Often had a tear or two in my eyes and a hitch in my voice as I was trying to read through.” Lee also stopped me from editing out a whole section of the book that, it turns out, readers love.
When the book was completed, and in the hands of the publisher, I wanted to find out from an author what this next period would be like. Given my need to pace myself, and still attend therapy for long-term injuries, I wanted to make the best of limited resources. Enter Ann Preston, author of The No-Grainer Baker cookbook.
She was introduced to me by a friend. Ann became a guardian angel, telling me what to expect, and, with her own book on its way to becoming a bestseller, sharing tips by the week.
Jan Wong (who self-published her most recent book, Out of the Blue) had experienced both traditional and self publishing. She openly shared her experience with promoting and distributing her books, while I made notes of everything from postage rates for books to dealing with invitations for book readings.
Authors Merilyn Simonds, Olive Senior and Donna Kakonge also encouraged me.
With wise words of support, small notes of caution, and precious bits of common-sense, these authors helped me to make A Good Home a success. Bravo and Thanks to them all.
~~~
May 2024 be kind to you and your loved ones.
Cynthia.
Fine tributes
Wonderful tributes. Synchronicity can be a wonderful gift at the right time.
There are really lots of nice people out there. I had the opportunity to see Louise Penny speak at a book signing and she had a wonderful personality. I have to admit that my husband is a big fan of hers and he brought me along.
Her writing is so darned interesting. Glad you and your husband got to see her in person. We may seem “like sisters”, as Louise said, but I’ve never actually met her in person.
The power of kindred spirits and friendship! I agree, you have written a wonderful tribute to these authors, and to the spirit of community.
Thanks, Lavinia. I hope the new year is off to a good start.
Thanks for this backstory Cynthia. I love your book, A Good Home, and am delighted that you received so much (deserving) help. You have been incredibly kind to me via our blogs and your gifting of books. May you continue to thrive.
Thank you, Brad, and also for your comment on A Good Home. I love that book. An Honest House won an award, but of my three published books, my first remains closest to my heart.
You’re most welcome. It’s interesting that A Good Home resonated more with me too.
Happy New Year, Cynthia. I have found the writing community to be very supportive and helpful.
Always. Happy new year, Roberta! Thanks for dropping in.
We do sometimes find support and encouragement in unlikely places! But may I disagree with you on one point? There are no coincidences. Everything is happening exactly as it’s supposed to happen. 🙂 But Louise Penny! You were meant to be in touch. I’m a fan of hers, too. Cheers, Cynthia, and best always on your writing and any other endeavors (baking included!) Jeanne
Thanks, Jeanne! I hope the new year is off to a fine start for you, and that your creative work is going well. Co-incidence (a co-incident) is still mysterious to me. In that borderland where the divine meets the temporal.
In my understanding, it has everything to do with the divine, nothing to do with temporal. 😊
Thank you for sharing this uplifting post, Cynthia. It gave me a lift and put a smile on my face.
I’m glad to hear it. We’re “enjoying” some grey and cold days here so the thought of putting a smile on your face is a warming one.
A smile-inducing blog post is always welcome! Our weather is in the indecisive phase right now. 🙂
A Happy New Year to you and yours, Cynthia. This is a wonderful tribute to all those authors who gave you so much help and support. It is also a fascinating insight into a part of the writing process that most of us non-writers have no knowledge of at all.
Thank you, Clare. It’s good to hear from you, and I hope you and the family are all well. I think of you often.
Thank you so much, Cynthia. I think of you often too and hope that your family are all doing well.
You are lucky! I never got this kind of support – probably because I’m an introvert and don’t know how to ask for help – and ended up feeling I should give up writing.
I hope you don’t.
I’ve learned that you have to ask. And make sure you have either read the other author’s book/s, or blogs, or read up on her/him. It provides a genuine starting point. Hard for introverts, but worth the effort. Happy new year to you.
Thanks, Cynthia. I read everyone’s stuff and say what I like about it, but still can’t ask them to comment on mine! I feel they should reciprocate without being asked.
Btw I sent a copy of Myrtle the Turtle to my grand nephew in the US and he loved it!
I’m so thankful you did this!
Such wonderful stories of generosity! A lovely warmth on these cold days.
And cold, dreary days they are when I look ouside my window! Warm memories and counting our blessings help light up the gloom.
Interestingly enough I am reading a Louise Penny right now. Also, if I were to write a similar thanks to writers who encouraged and supported me, your name would be in that article.
Thank you!
Thank you, Paula. How kind of you. Happy new year!
I’ve read and enjoyed all of Louise Penny’s books. It’s great to find a supportive writing community and you are an important part of mine <3
And you mine. Thank you, Andrea.
A beautiful tribute, Cynthia! The kindness of other authors deserves praise. Here’s to writing and being in community with other writers!
Yes indeed!
Wonderful people! Happy New Year Cynthia!
Thanks, Julie. Hope you’re all well.
Hi Cynthia ..hugs all good here!