The Gift of Promotion
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| Erica Green |
The Gift of Promotion by Debra H. Goldstein
When I was a child, I believed in fairy tales where everyone
lived happily ever after. With age, I
learned that no matter how hard one wishes, life isn’t always perfect. In fact, sometimes it simply sucks. This week
was one of those times – my mother died.
lived happily ever after. With age, I
learned that no matter how hard one wishes, life isn’t always perfect. In fact, sometimes it simply sucks. This week
was one of those times – my mother died.
My mother was my greatest promoter. From personal experience as a Holocaust
survivor who came to America at age ten with her nine-year-old brother, she understood
the power a single word of encouragement has. Whether I wanted to be a singer,
even though I can’t sing four notes in sequence, or a comedienne like Carol
Burnett, she never dashed my hopes. Of
course, she later admitted relief when I opted to be a lawyer and then a judge.
I was afraid she would be upset when I stepped down from the bench to pursue
writing full-time, but she became my largest promoter.
survivor who came to America at age ten with her nine-year-old brother, she understood
the power a single word of encouragement has. Whether I wanted to be a singer,
even though I can’t sing four notes in sequence, or a comedienne like Carol
Burnett, she never dashed my hopes. Of
course, she later admitted relief when I opted to be a lawyer and then a judge.
I was afraid she would be upset when I stepped down from the bench to pursue
writing full-time, but she became my largest promoter.
Mom loved giving people a copy of my novel, Maze in Blue, whispering how a new book
has been acquired but its contract isn’t finalized yet, or showing them various
bound anthologies that contain one of my short stories. She wasn’t quite as vocal about the short
stories or essays appearing in e-publications or magazines.
has been acquired but its contract isn’t finalized yet, or showing them various
bound anthologies that contain one of my short stories. She wasn’t quite as vocal about the short
stories or essays appearing in e-publications or magazines.
This week, sitting in the hospital with my mother, I only
had access to my smart phone and I found it interesting that a list serve I
follow was having a heated discussion that exactly reflected my mother’s novel
vs. short story behavior. The upshot of the discussion seemed to be that authors
and readers don’t promote short stories and short story anthologies with the
same oomph as full-length novels or novellas.
had access to my smart phone and I found it interesting that a list serve I
follow was having a heated discussion that exactly reflected my mother’s novel
vs. short story behavior. The upshot of the discussion seemed to be that authors
and readers don’t promote short stories and short story anthologies with the
same oomph as full-length novels or novellas.
With a tip of my hat to the memory of my mother and the
success and happiness she knew I found in my first year of writing instead of
being on the bench, here’s to the short stories and essays that have appeared this
year:
success and happiness she knew I found in my first year of writing instead of
being on the bench, here’s to the short stories and essays that have appeared this
year:
A Political Cornucopia – Bethlehem Writers Roundtable
featured November 2013 story reprinted on November 24, 2014 by King’s River
Life. http://kingsriverlife.com/11/24/a-political-cornucopia-a-thanksgiving-mystery-short-story/
featured November 2013 story reprinted on November 24, 2014 by King’s River
Life. http://kingsriverlife.com/11/24/a-political-cornucopia-a-thanksgiving-mystery-short-story/
Thanksgiving in Moderation – a family fun Thanksgiving tale
included in The Killer Wore Cranberry: a Fourth Meal of Mayhem published by
Untreed Reads. Note: on December 1,
Untreed Reads is running a CyberMonday sale!!!
http://store.untreedreads.com/
included in The Killer Wore Cranberry: a Fourth Meal of Mayhem published by
Untreed Reads. Note: on December 1,
Untreed Reads is running a CyberMonday sale!!!
http://store.untreedreads.com/
Hot and Cold – King’s River Life – http://kingsriverlife.com/11/01/hot-and-cold-a-mystery-short-story/ (November 2014)
Bake, Love, Write – one of 105 authors providing a dessert
recipe and essays on romance and writing
recipe and essays on romance and writing
Early Frost – The Birmingham Arts Journal (April 2014)
Who Dat? Dat the Indian Chief! – my favorite mystery story of redemption
included the short story anthology – Mardi Gras Murder (February 2014)
included the short story anthology – Mardi Gras Murder (February 2014)
Two other short stories won competition prizes, but have not
yet been published and my 2012 IPPY Award winning Maze in Blue was reissued by
Harlequin Worldwide Mystery in May 2014.
yet been published and my 2012 IPPY Award winning Maze in Blue was reissued by
Harlequin Worldwide Mystery in May 2014.
The list serve discussion highlighted a problem with
promotion of our works that all writers can easily remedy by awareness and
simple actions. Although I have tried to promote equally, I know I can better
use the tools of my mother’s legacy for myself and for others.
promotion of our works that all writers can easily remedy by awareness and
simple actions. Although I have tried to promote equally, I know I can better
use the tools of my mother’s legacy for myself and for others.
My mother gave me the confidence through words of
encouragement to believe I can succeed at new endeavors. I am so glad she had
the opportunity to share in the happiness of my new writing career. Although
there will be no more telephone calls with words of empowerment or declarations
to her friends of how wonderful my writing is, even when it is not, the gift of
using words to encourage, engage, promote, and live life to its fullest will
always stay with me and be something I can share with you and pass on through
my children and grandchildren.
encouragement to believe I can succeed at new endeavors. I am so glad she had
the opportunity to share in the happiness of my new writing career. Although
there will be no more telephone calls with words of empowerment or declarations
to her friends of how wonderful my writing is, even when it is not, the gift of
using words to encourage, engage, promote, and live life to its fullest will
always stay with me and be something I can share with you and pass on through
my children and grandchildren.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Erica Green – a survivor, a role model, and my heroine –
4/8/29 – 11/20/14.
4/8/29 – 11/20/14.
What a wonderful tribute to your mom. Though I had a wonderful mom, she was just the opposite, always trying to talk me out of doing things. As an adult I asked her why, her answer, "If you didn't succeed, I didn't want you to be hurt." I think your mom's way is better.
there were times I bit off more than I could handle, but I learned from them (with her help). All told, she ended up giving a very shy child confidence.
Thank you, Debra, for sharing these precious thoughts about your dear, departed mother. What a role model for you…and a cheerleader too. We should all be so fortunate. I know you will miss her terribly, but your memories are so good and so strong, I hope they help tide you over. Her tapes will run in your head forever and ever. Still, I am so sorry for your great loss. Hugs.
Thank you for the kind words and the hugs. Those are the things that have made this week a little easier.
What a wonderful tribute to your mother. You certainly will carry forward her legacy of love and encouragement. Hugs to you on your loss.
Thank you for the hugs and pointing out how I will carry her into the future.
Sympathies on the loss of your mother. Sending big hugs and prayers to you..
Thank you
Debra, what a banner year of publications you've had! Congratulations. I know that your mother must be equally proud of the friendships and connections you've made in the writing community. Thank you for always supporting others as she provided support for you.