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Victoria Ponders

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March 1, 2024

Podcast Friday: Skip the “Filigree”

In the second part of our delicious podcast with Jack Canfora, Jack uses a word that made me light up. Sparks of recognition for having erred in a way he described. Mistakes made from putting too fine a polish on an unworthy sentence or an entire, misguided paragraph. Jack’s simple term which encompasses all of… Continue reading

podcast

author, creativity, learn, podcast, writer, writing
February 29, 2024

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Intuitive Legacies

When Wynne and I chatted recently in our podcast with Jack Canfora, his anecdote about the Beatles’ song, Eleanor Rigby, was like a lightning rod for readers and listeners. It’s an amazing story – one that I won’t recount here, but feel free to give the episode a listen if you missed it. Knowing that… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book, communication, families, intuition, legacy, love, memories
February 20, 2024

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Strength Sammie

I love chatting with readers and in a recent encounter, my brain was on fire with loads of terrific input, insight and observations. It’s hard to put into words, the wave of wonder that a writer feels when ‘knowingness’ is conveyed. Message received. I hear you. Even better? Those delicious moments when unexpected praise rolls… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, humor, insight, lifestyle, memoir, praise, readers, Wellness, writers
February 14, 2024

I LOVE Reader Input 🥰

I’ve said this before…and I’ll ask for forgiveness in advance because I probably won’t stop. Reader input is the most wonderful, unexpected joy in writing. My mom’s story IS complicated, and a dear reader recently wondered if I could challenge myself to create a new graphic – one that might depict the messy ‘soup’ that… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, Design, feedback, infographic, love, mental health, writers
February 9, 2024

Podcast Friday: Practicing Creativity

Aren’t we all hard on ourselves? It’s a matter of degrees for most, I suspect, but living a life of intention and seeking opportunities for improvement typically means I’m incessantly measuring my progress. Am I there yet? Am I there yet? Therein lies the problem. Actually, two problem-O-s: Problem-O #1: Was I clear about my… Continue reading

podcast

author, compassion, podcast, practice, resilience, trying, writer
February 7, 2024

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Healing

My mom, Sue, had a very challenging childhood. Her father died when she was young, and she carried just two memories of him with her. I suspect her favorite involved fishing adventures and her first ‘big catch’. The photo my grandfather snapped of his girl, Suzie, became the cover art for “Surviving Sue” – the… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

ACEs, author, book, grief, intergenerational healing, loss, love, mental health, resilience, Wellness
January 27, 2024

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Paul McCartney Style

I grabbed your attention with the title, didn’t I? Sorry to disappoint (both of us) but I’ve never met Sir Paul and yet…like zillions of other fans, it’s never diminished my adoration. My 12-year-old self knew an anthem when she heard one. The Paul McCartney and Wings Album, “Band on the Run” debuted in December… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, Family, friendship, grace, gratitude, love, memoir, memories, music, paul mccartney
January 26, 2024

It’s a Magical Podcast Friday!

Wynne and I had a delightful chat in our most recent podcast as we talked with writer Dave Williams about his family’s love of books and his sources of inspiration as he writes gorgeous, imaginative stories – often including his own artwork. I hope you’ll give the episode a listen because we’re gonna fill your… Continue reading

podcast

author, creativity, Family, imagination, Jung, lifestyle, podcast, writer
December 12, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Sue Had Rizz

Have you heard? The youthful Gen Z term,“rizz”, was crowned 2023’s word of the year by the publishers of the Oxford English Dictionary: What it means: For those of us who haven’t heard the term before, “rizz” is slang for “style, charm, or attractiveness” or “the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner,” according to… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book, humor, lifestyle, love, mental health, resilience, rizz, Surviving Sue, Wellness, writing
December 4, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Holiday Hopefulness

“We’ve all survived a Sue in our lives in one way or another. It’s a personal narrative that hits our hearts.” -Elizabeth I love Elizabeth’s feedback and wisdom. Yes — maybe your nemesis wasn’t named “Sue” but increasingly as readers dig into “Surviving Sue” I receive input that the challenges I wrote about are familiar.… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book, holiday self-care, mental health, personal narrative, SAMHSA, Wellness, writing
October 31, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Learning & Growing

Thanks so much for continuing to ride along as I share more about “Surviving Sue“. I can’t believe it’s only been three months since her debut! (Hmm…Three months or three years?) I’ve learned so much about the process of publishing and promoting but even more… about myself. A lot of personal growth has been packed… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, books, healing, love, personal narrative, publishing, vulnerability, writing
October 20, 2023

Great Gobs of Girlfriend Love

Happy Podcast Friday, Friends! Wynne’s opener to our podcasts refers to ‘talented creatives who inspire’. Never would she think of herself as a gleaming example of a heroine and a source of inspiration for others…and yet…she is just that. I’m grateful to Wynne for her openness and giving soul. In her mind? She’s JUST Wynne… Continue reading

Family

author, Family, friendship, lifestyle, love, podcast
October 17, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Pause It, Name It

Hey, friends – I promised a few weeks ago that I would eventually get around to sharing more about my toolkit for dealing with complicated emotions – especially those related to my mom, Sue. As a counseling professional, I utilize my degrees and training and generally feel confident about helping others, but when I’m the… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book, Buddha, mindfulness, self-care, stress reduction, Wellness
October 10, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Sue’s Big Heart

I adore the anonymous quote I snipped in (above). When readers have asked about my capacity for forgiveness, the secret sauce that helped me survive Sue, I often think of this wisdom. It was my task to heal so I could better understand the mix of madness and love that bubbled within my mom. One… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

advocacy, author, disabilities, Family, gratitude, healing, lifestyle, memoir, Wellness
September 25, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Hide & Seek

My mom, Sue, was a tortured artist. Throughout her life she tried to soothe herself and fill the empty spaces within by leaning into her creative side, especially painting. I included a few references to her artwork in “Surviving Sue” and wrote about her apology art a few months ago. Exploring her feelings with paint… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

artists, author, love, mental health, pain, resilience, Wellness, writer
September 19, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Six-Word Style

I’ve continued to compile a list of FAQs from readers of “Surviving Sue”, my memoir about my mom’s complicated life and one of the recurring queries is about building resilience. Despite my background as a counselor/therapist, I’m cautious about highlighting any one specific technique or habit that helped guide my healing journey because the process… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, Family, love, memoir, new book, resilience, Wellness, writer
September 11, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Lit Fest

Hey, friends – I felt like many of you were with me in spirit on Saturday at the Printers Row Lit Fest. What a great event! I had the best helpers EVER – husband Paul and our daughter, Delaney. We enjoyed every bit of the adventure – gorgeous Chicago on a sunny day with temps… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, Chicago Writers Association, marketing, new book, Printers Row Lit Fest, promotion, publishing, writer
September 6, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Honoring a Veteran

Writing about my mom’s life required some tender diligence and editing as I introduced her siblings. My aunts are still alive, or at least I think so. One of the most painful by-products of my mom’s death was the detachment that occurred as my aunts distanced themselves from me and from my sweet sister Lisa. … Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book, gratitude, grief, honor, memories, service, Veterans, Vietnam
September 1, 2023

Promo Fun…Printer’s Row LitFest

In my years in higher ed, I loved doing ‘table work’ – staffing events and supporting students, faculty and staff to promote services or provide quick meditation or deep breathing lessons for stress relief – on the spot. Doing programs for parents was a highlight, too. So much so that the textbook I wrote with… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book promotion, gratitude, new book, Printer’s Row LitFest, writer
August 22, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Publisher Q & A

Hello, friends! This week’s “Peek Inside” shares more from the interview with my publisher, Rick Kaempfer, plus a wonderful new review. I shared a post about the promo process recently because I know many of you are curious about the ‘behind the scenes’ aspects of publishing. Learning to talk about yourself, your book, your motivation,… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, Chicago Writer’s Association, gratitude, publishing, writer
August 16, 2023

“Surviving Sue” – On the Road!

I am so excited! I’ve been invited to participate in the Midwest’s largest literary showcase, “Printers Row Lit Fest” coming up on September 9 in Chicago. The Lit Fest is held in a historic neighborhood, once known as the bookmaking hub of Chicago. The two-day event is in its 38th year and typically… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book fair, book signing, Chicago Writer’s Association, Printers Row Lit Fest, writers
August 8, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Heal, Grow, Help

Hi there! I have a little inspiration to share with you today. I love this anonymous quote: In four super-short sentences and a mere eleven words, that quote describes my current state of being as a writer. Heal. Grow. Help. Yep. Maybe that should’ve been the drastically abbreviated version of my mom, Sue’s story. (For… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, Family, gratitude, love, memoir, mental health, moms and daughters, Wellness
August 1, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Weight of Lies

Never did I imagine writing a post that would link my mom, Sue, with Dostoevsky, yet here I am. Doing just that. Let me explain, by starting with a quote from “The Brothers Karamazov”: “A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies, becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book, love, memoir, mental health, recovery, resilience, Wellness
July 25, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Writer’s Vulnerability

Gifts come in unexpected wrappers. I doubt she suspected her post would be perceived that way, but when Georgia from the beautiful blog Person on the Page wrote about personal nonfiction a few weeks ago, referencing “Body Work” by Melissa Febos, she bestowed a gift upon me. The whole post was a treat, but Georgia’s… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, courage, Family, gratitude, memoir, new book, vulnerability, writer
July 19, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – eBook Arrival!

Thank you to those who’ve been asking about the eBook version of “Surviving Sue”. It’s available now, on Amazon. 😊 If you’re interested in purchasing the book…as a book…you can do so through my publisher: Surviving Sue | Eckhartz Press. Reviews and comments are welcome, welcome, welcome! Please visit the “Surviving Sue” page here to… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book, gratitude, love, memoir, writer
July 16, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Launch Party

Book signings, launch parties. Fun stuff! Now that I’ve crossed that threshold, “Surviving Sue” is officially in the world. The opportunity to celebrate with friends and family was wonderful and overwhelming. Join me as I share a few photos and insider info. The Venue Matters: The launch party location couldn’t have been more perfect. Known… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book launch, book signing, friendship, gratitude, lifestyle, love, writing
July 12, 2023

Party Time!

Hey, friends! It’s party time! I wish I could invite all of you to the launch party for “Surviving Sue“. Celebrating this milestone with the fabulous humans who helped the book become a reality is incredibly joyous. Color me grateful. The next couple of days will be all about food, friends, family…and love. Try as… Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book launch, gratitude, lifestyle, love, party, writing

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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.

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Chicago Writers Association Speakers Bureau – Writing for Wellness; Navigating Elder Care with Grace & Humor

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