The joy of publishing Harper the Love Puppy and working with my Artner – art partner, Spring Warren is almost too big too describe.
Writing and creating can be lonely work. And often requires more self-discipline than I have. And more focus than comes naturally to my ADHD-must-learn-every-shiny-new-thing-self.
However, I knew the power of community and collaboration from volunteering days, homeschooling days, and ALS caregiving days.
Luckily, during my library volunteer days, I met a few of the authors in our area. I got to know them before I was writing much — by asking for their help with library programs and Big Day of Giving fundraising. Being library loving and community minded, they donated books, helped with events, gave talks. Showed up.
One of the authors, Tamsen Schulz, suggested we start meeting at the local wine tasting room once a week to write. Not as a critique group, but just to work side-by-side. To check in on what we were each working on, to create that sense of community and support that can be missing in the writing and self-publishing process.
That was back in 2015!
Our Wednesday Writer weekly meetings and random writing retreats have been catalysts for other creative collaborations as well as a strong foundation for friendship. We show up and offer what we can–feedback, edits rides, hugs.
Whether silly or serious, you know you’ll have someone to commiserate with you, challenge you, or encourage you. Or to maybe be an artner in a new collaboration. Tamsen and Eileen Rendahl have some ideas brewing.
Catriona McPherson is having a book release event for her new stand alone The Dead Room at the Avid Reader in Davis on May 1. She said, why don’t you come along and bring some copies?
I’m so grateful for their generosity, collaboration, and humor. If you haven’t checked out their books, which I highly recommend, you can find them at their websites or Amazon pages.
I think the photo below captures the feeling of tickled pink!
What community and collaboration can you celebrate in May?
