Victoria Ponders

Author of “Surviving Sue”

  • Santa Sue

    (I shared a portion of this post a couple of years ago and couldn’t resist a ‘take two’ moment today…a smile about my complicated mother and her love of Christmas.) My mom, Sue, was a party girl at heart and Christmas was her favorite holiday.  Even when money was tight, she’d find ways to rally people

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  • Don’t Whine

    Margaret Atwood offered fabulous advice for writers fourteen years ago and I missed it. Thank goodness for the almighty algorithms that serve nuggets of wisdom. I don’t know how that happens. Sometimes I like it, but other times? It definitely feels invasive…seeing something in my social media feed which addresses a complaint – unuttered –

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  • Live Every Minute!

    Sounds bossy, I know. Live Every Minute! But stick with me. I’m mulling the enchantment of books…words and creations…illustrations that transport us; nudge us about what matters most. Kindness. Consideration. Love. I won’t pretend to understand how the Universe works, but I am delighted when coincidences appear. I’m delighted when I meet talented people and

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  • Loving Lisa & Supporting Her Team

    I adore my intellectually disabled sister, Lisa, and many long-time readers know how grateful I am for the caring team which surrounds Lisa in her CILA (community integrated living arrangement). Her loving group home, staffed by dear ones who’ve become extensions of our family over the years. Staff members who work for the Clearbrook organization

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  • Smiling – “Real Big”

    I’m not sure I’ll find the right words to share what’s in my heart today, but I’ve put my fingers on the keyboard, so let’s find out. I found myself crying in the car the other day. Not from grief or sadness but the overwhelm that comes when joy invades. Straight to the heart. Reminding

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  • Six Questions 😉

    I’ve never responded to a blogging prompt before, but who can resist an invitation from a dear friend who tagged me in? The delightful Melanie McGauran wrote a beautiful post recently, prompted – literally, by the charming Pete Springer who invited Melanie to peel back the layers and tell us about her blogging life. It’s

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  • New Reviews! “Surviving Sue”

    I don’t think I’ll ever stop smiling when reviews of “Surviving Sue” come my way. Whether it’s my own busy days heightening my awareness about the preciousness of time or a new wave of gratitude, I am delighted when I receive reader feedback. And that’s before I read the review! 😉 Last week my ranking

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  • Loving Lisa: “I’m Like the Others”

    “We meet ourselves time and again in a thousand disguises on the path of life.” – Carl Jung Learning from others helps me see past the inadvertent disguises I wear. Most often, a comforting mask of certainty. Knowingness. Surprises come when I can recognize a growth opportunity. An opening to embrace what I might overlook.

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  • When You Crack Yourself Up: Ghost Writer

    Oh my. This story? It takes the cake. The whole bakery. You won’t believe what I did. At least I THINK it was my mistake. Let me explain. I’m working on my project…my lengthier-by-the-minute manuscript that’s a fictionalized account of one of the threads in “Surviving Sue”. One that’s intrigued readers, which I’ve taken as

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  • Printers Row Lit Fest – Gratitude!

    Hey there! I’m checking in to share some tidbits about my second ever visit to Printers Row Lit Fest in gorgeous Chicago yesterday. Here are some top-of-mind gratitude thoughts the morning after: Listening to stories – discovering connecting threads between strangers about shared experiences, especially the challenges of tending to individual and generational trauma while

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“Surviving Sue”, a special story about resiliency and love: Eckhartz Press (paperback) and eBook on Amazon.

Peek Inside “Surviving Sue“

Visit Resources on Atkinson Group Solutions for more.

Podcasts

Listen to the “Sharing the Heart of the Matter” podcast.

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Workshops

Chicago Writers Association Speakers Bureau – Writing for Wellness; Navigating Elder Care with Grace & Humor; How to Create a Writing Platform; AI for Caregivers

About Me

Learn about five books that inspired and supported my writing journey by visiting my personalized book review page on Shepherd.

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