I received a wonderful review recently on Amazon and it made my week. Lindsey’s kind words lined up beautifully with my latest project as I continue promoting my book:
Lindsey…if you’re reading this, thank you so much. I dunno about being exceptional, but I’m getting comfier with me…being me.
Your sweet review was just the incentive I needed to keep working on my next workshop, “Navigating Elder Care with Grace & Humor”. One of the unexpected joys about book promotion is the offer to present on topics near and dear – drawn from the pages of “Surviving Sue”.
Writers know the process of creating can be a blur of forced isolation in order to write, write, write and endlessly edit. Whether you’re going at it alone or with the help of beta readers, editors, agents, publishers, the words are yours and the mantle rests on your shoulders. And then…
After all your hard work, your book exists. You birthed a “book-baby” and boom – your duties shift into another gear altogether:
Welcome to Promo-Land where the job is all about storytelling – about the story.
The insights, the characters, the big moments, the quiet elements.
You hope for feedback from readers.
You hope your book will be enjoyed – useful.
You hope you will survive.
It’s the one-woman show of my life and while I thought I was prepared, I wasn’t. Not even close.
What helps? Those blessed queries and comments from readers. Hearing that the broad strokes and nuances were understood.
Injections of recognition propel me forward, motivating me to create and post book club resources like these handouts about the predominant themes in “Surviving Sue”. I’ve heard they’ve been helpful – and I love that.
I’ll tell you a secret. I overlooked a compelling thread as I wrote because I was literally tooclosetoseeit. The singular characteristic which defines me, my ‘care and keeping’ intentions. Doing my best to be a good human to myself, and to others:
Hello, my name is Vicki and I’m a caregiver.
It doesn’t matter whether I’m in my professional role or I’m in mom or wife mode. It doesn’t matter if I’m caring for my disabled sister, Lisa, or chugging along the painful path I experienced with Sue.
“Caregiver” = Vicki.
And I know I’m not alone.
It’s a role each of us takes on in one way or another. Variances in depth, breadth and specifics; it’s one of the human unifiers.
Finding compassion and good humor…bending without breaking? I had plenty of help and I learned a few tricks along the way. Some call it ‘self-care’. I called it – then and now – self-preservation. Not optional.
One of my dear ones – a friend who would check in on me regularly during the most somber days with Sue – was sassy, brassy and a literal beacon, reminding me that I could persevere. She’d send a quick text or call to ask, “How’s life on the struggle bus, today?” Struggle bus. She saw me and knew a soupcon of humor would help. 😉
Her simple outreach acknowledged the load I carried – with a dash of silliness – lifting me up when I felt low. Nothing magical. Not heroic. Her sweet text messages were booster shots of love.
In a few weeks, I get to return the favor in a new way. In the “Navigating Elder Care with Grace & Humor” workshop, I’ll share what I know. Supporting one another through self-care, parenting, caregiving for elders or other dependents (like my sweet sister, Lisa) is a colossal job. The best strategies for survival? It’s the rallying and sharing. Commiserating as we find our way. Trading tips.
When readers like Lindsey offer heartfelt feedback, it’s like jet fuel. I’m ready for takeoff. I believe in ‘better together’.
Little baby drumroll, please…
Here’s where I’ll be next month:
Navigating Elder Care | Palos Heights Public Library (librarycalendar.com)
I’m excited that a couple of venues are interested in this topic and I’m grateful to the Chicago Writers Association and my publisher, Eckhartz Press for their support. I’m thrilled that a topic as important as caregiving can be highlighted as a resonant theme from “Surviving Sue”. Care and keeping. Looking out for ourselves and those we love.
Vicki 😉
P.S. Check out more “Peek Inside” content about “Surviving Sue”.
P.P.S. Wynne Leon and I love supporting other writers. We have a workshop – also available from the Chicago Writers Association about “Writing for Resilience”. Here’s a free peek at a similar workshop, done for our friends at RevelEleven recently.
P.P.P.S (Is that a thing?) I’m grateful for the great “Surviving Sue” reviews on Amazon and Goodreads…and the wonderful questions and input from thoughtful readers. I welcome more! If you’ve enjoyed the book and my story, please pass along your positivity to a fellow reader.
Victoria Ponders 
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