Blog 54 - Book Buzzr Interview with Jonell Kirby Cash

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1. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

Over the years, as a college professor, I wrote several books and other shorter works. Then, widowed and in the middle of my busy retirement, I married my high school sweetheart, increasing exponentially my family size and complexity.  It seemed that people “ate up my time,” and age began to take a toll on my energy. But I wasn’t ready to settle for the routine, and as I approached the eighth decade of life I became mindful that I had not fulfilled my dream of writing a novel. Then and there, like turning on a dime, I decided to become a serious student of fiction and write a novel that would speak to the fifty-plus year old reader. 

As my writing progressed, and my commitment to my novel became more intense, I felt some internal friction about letting my writing take its toll on my role as a frequent hostess to family gatherings I cut back on my volunteer work—things I loved but  ate up time I used for writing.  Sometimes I had the feeling that my extended family was unhappy with the changes I made; yet, their disapproval (if real) was unspoken and so I pursued my dream.  I was living fully when I was pursuing our passion—and at age 82, I became a first-time novelist with the publication of A RING, A DANCE, A SECOND CHANCE (Tate. 2011).  Writing the love story about high school sweethearts, who marry more than forty years later, was a personally satisfying experience. 

2. Describe your book ‘A Ring A Dance A Second Chance’ in 30 words or less.  

 When Katie Wheatley answers the phone and hears Taylor Floyd’s voice, she feels giddy-single—just like the girl he dated some forty years ago. 

3. What was the hardest part of writing your book? 

My big hurtle was to block out uninterrupted time to write and to give myself permission to use the needed resources (time, money, energy) to get the help I needed to understand the structure of fiction. And I wanted to be part of the give-and-take of the creative writers’ community.  

4. What books have had the greatest influence on you? 

I’ve always been a reader and I love words.  To answer the question, my first impulse is to say that books about self, e.g., Carl Rogers, ON BECOMING A PERSON, has had a profound impact on my life and philosophy.  Since most fiction is about human nature, I think I’m deeply influenced by those writers who shine a light on the nature of being. 

5. Briefly share with us what you do to market your book?  

If I focus on marketing I feel I’m not doing what I enjoy—writing!  Thus, I decided to leave marketing to a representative who can take my work to create interest in my activities and use his skills and knowledge to interface with those individuals and businesses. With monitoring, my marketing is an Author Strategic Brand Programs through social media, targeted through a dedicated marketing campaign, Internet SEO (Search Engine Optimization), Web Site design, Book Trailers, Book Signings, Interviews on Pod Cast, Radio, and TV, Press Releases and Media Awareness Avenues.  

6. How do you spend your time when you are not writing? 

I have a large and thoughtful extended family of origin--that I’ve expanded by creating a “Kudzu Family” membership who are also involved—mine is a creative and talented group of individuals who value art and creativity; thus, I have on-going contact with those who critique my work and share their ideas.  This group adds to my interest in writing.  Of course, I read widely, attend art exhibits and many seminars, classes, and drama at University of Ga. –and I teach courses in “writing fiction” at OLLI@UGA.  I still travel quite frequently, garden, cook and entertain and recently I’ve become involved in activities relevant to active aging. 

7. What are you working on next? 

A Sequel to my first novel…now that I have been married, in my senescence,  to my high school sweetheart for about twelve years, I’ve observed and experienced new and different events that are relevant to those of us who are  in our eighties, with adult,  even aging-adult, children and step-children and their families—our grandchildren and great grandchildren.   I’m sure the book will enlighten me as I follow the couple and their children through another decade or so.

Interview Link: http://www.freado.com/users/interview/30337/jonell

For more information about Jonell Kirby Cash, Author, view web site:  www.jonellkirbycash.com 

Blog 54 - Book Buzzr Interview with Jonell Kirby Cash

Blog 53 - Red Hatter - "A Ring A Dance A Second Chance" Book Trailer

A RING, A DANCE, A SECOND CHANCE was published about a year ago and I’ve had requests that I write a sequence.  At first, writing about  the couple after a few years into their new marriage

didn’t seem doable because I really didn’t know what would/might transpire over time.  Now, twelve years into my married and at age 83, I have a new perspective of aging, as well as what it means to be a couple with our own physical and mental changes, and the changing relationships with our children as they face retirement and we find that we are sometimes torn between our needs, their needs, and the expectations, or needs, of their adult children.  

Rather recently I have started writing a sequel: I’m excited about teasing out the stories that helps me clarify what it means to grow old and what we gain when we accept the losses and  search for what opens up to us (the gains) when we move on; sometimes with more help from others, and always, with new interest and activity.

Enjoy my new book trailer...It really talks to the book!

Jonell Kirby Cash - Web Site: www.jonellkirbycash.com

Blog 52 - It’s The Month of Love…Who Are You Thankful For?

Andrea's Corner

Love can be defined in so many ways. There is love between adults and the love between parents and their children. Love is shared between friends and often between teachers and their students. If we are lucky, we’ll get to experience love in a variety of ways over the course of our lifetime.  Sometimes love blossoms and sometimes love fades…either way, it shapes who we are and how we see the world.

Our first love experience is that of the parent child. As children we could not choose the family we were raised in, but as adults we can create the parent child relationship in the fashion that we desire. First we are children and then we are parents …we get to experience both sides of the relationship. Our second love experience is with an equal per se, but we can be the person that stays or the person that leaves. Heartbreak is a miserable experience, but it is worth the growth to endure it at least once in a lifetime. 

Love between a mentor and a muse can exchange enlightenment between people who “have been there done that” and the beckoning canvas. The reward of helping others and of being vulnerable are not mutually exclusive…the energy releases joy and love. When I was in my early 40’s a woman by the name of Jonell Kirby Cash sought me out to help her with the release of her first work of fiction “a Ring a Dance a Second Chance”. I did not know at the time what her presence in my life would bring.

A short film on SoulPancake http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIsh7UejrWc inspired me to consider Jonell in this Valentine season. Folks off of the street take turns speaking words of gratitude into a microphone and thus putting their love into the world. People thank their mothers, their teachers and their mentors…yes I thought…Jonell has been all of these things. If a microphone were set up only to interview the people that she has touched in her life…how long would the line be?

What a wonderful thing to fully realize the impact that you have had on others lives and conversely the people that have impacted you. Who are you grateful for?  If there was a large microphone at your disposal right now….who would you give a shout out to? In this season of love, I would say to my children “I love you unconditionally”. To Jonell I would say “thank you for believing in me and for inspiring me”. To myself I would say “thank you for fully realizing your value on this earth…now go spread some love”.

This year, you won’t see me in the Valentines’ Isle at the card shop. You will not run into me out to dinner on February 14^th. You may however; find me walking in the park by the river falling more in love with nature.   Perhaps you and I will meet in the grocery store parking lot as I wave you into a vacant parking space or offer to replace your cart for you. For me…I want to put love into the world. I hope to meet your gaze and offer you a warm smile. I hope that in some small way…running into me makes your day better…the world a better place.

It is time people. It is time for a love revolution! We have done enough intellectual evolution to take care of ourselves and our planet. Now is the time to open hearts and change minds. YOU and I…we are already connected. This big glorious universe is the love pulsing in each of our veins…we are all connected. My Valentine to You is to say “I love you!” and to ask “won’t you join me”?

Read more about Jonell Kirby Cash Author of “A Ring A Dance A Second Chance” at

www.jonellkirbycash.com   

Andrea Williams

Managing Editor of A Public Relations Company

www.apublicrelationscompany.com      

Blog 51 - Guest Post On Book Goodies - Rituals of Writers

Today I read a piece about little rituals writers go through as they approached the physical act of writing.  That teased my memory; but, I couldn’t recall any ritual that I go through so I shrugged and thought I might consider my rituals at another time.  I headed for my desk with the intent of getting a blog posted. I am 82 and have written my first novel.

I crossed the room to my computer.  I had everything set to work on my blog, but first I began moving papers on my desk.  I straightened all of the paper I had positioned around my chair and then moved to straighten all of the written materials. . . about ten minutes later I realized that I could not focus on the task at hand until I’d touched all of the pages in sight.  Of course, I thought, that’s my ritual. Then I recalled a similar ritual from my early years as a writer.  I’d go into my office to write and I’d find myself wasting time: I’d pull books that I loved and documents I valued from my bookshelves;  I’d hold them in my hands for a few moments and then return them to the shelves—or more likely, pile them on the floor.  Then the next time that I went into the office to write, I’d pick up those same items and shelve them.  My ritual then and my ritual now are different only in detail.

My idea is that a ritual, for a writer, is a short transitional phase where one moves ones focus from the concrete, day-to-day, ordinary world things and enters an ethereal moment to begin creating something that is different from, and sometimes greater, than reality?  

How do you open your mind to the world of your imagination?  Are you surprised when you are writing and you feel alive yet detached from “real world” limitations?  

 Writing A RING, A DANCE, A SECOND CHANCE  was an enjoyable experience,  structured  by my ritual,  and supported by the joy of finding meaning  through writing.