Upcoming Book Signing

 

I've been invited by the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver, Colorado to participate in a quick book signing on Sunday, November 28th at 3pm. This will be at the Aspen Grove location. Copies of my books, Williamsburg Hill and Daniel's Esperanza, will be available for purchase. I'm looking forward to getting things going again after this too-long hiatus, and appreciate the invitation from this great bookstore. 

Also, it wouldn't be the holidays with me trying to sell my work in a blog post, so here it goes again. In addition to the appearance on November 28th, my books and photographs/art are always available for purchase either in bookstores, big box retailers that sell books, my websites, or elsewhere online.  Below are some screenshots of recent photos I've added to my Fine Art America page; currently a 20% sale is running on all purchases. Check it out at www.veronica-batterson.pixels.com

Hopefully, all of this will push me into starting (or finally finishing) projects that have been hanging around. It has been tough to get motivated. Which brings up something else. If you enjoy a person's work, then say it, promote it, encourage it, give it open and high reviews, share it. By doing this, more people find out about it, more sales are made, more opportunities happen, and it gives the author (artist, photographer) encouragement and a reason to continue. Writing is a solitary business. Writing a book can take a very long time; getting a book published can take years. Knowing that something you've dedicated this much time to doing is actually getting read can be the instigator for creating the next one. If enough people gave it a public shout-out, the opportunities could be phenomenal...book deals, agents, and/or movie options come to mind. We all need a little help. Be kind. Thanks, as always, for reading.

Keep up with my work here, or on my website at www.veronicabatterson.com.

Bookstock 2016 - Thank You

I'd like to thank the Memphis Public Library system for the invitation to participate in this past Saturday's Bookstock 2016. The event was held at the Benjamin L. Hooks Library and was a great success. I've enjoyed the privilege of attending many author related festivals over the years in the Chicago area, but I think this event in Memphis was the best I've ever seen. Kudos to the organizers for realizing that promotion, table placement for the authors, engaging attendees to visit with all the authors, and incorporating music, visual and performance art with literacy all lead to a successful day. It was well attended and enjoyed by all, and it was nice meeting so many people. Thanks to those who bought copies of my books, too.

Until next year.

Bookstock 2016 - Memphis Area Authors' Festival

As mentioned in my previous post, I will be participating in Bookstock 2016, the Memphis Area Authors' Festival on April 23, 2016 at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library in Memphis, TN. Sponsored by the Memphis Public Library, the event runs from 11am - 3pm. If you're in the area, stop by and say hello. I will have copies of all three of my books (Daniel's Esperanza, Billy's First Dance, Funny Pages) for sale. Over forty authors will be participating. Come out and meet us...it's sure to be a great day!

Comes the Dawn

I'd like to start this blog post by mentioning that I'll be participating in the 6th annual Bookstock-Memphis Area Author's Festival on Saturday, April 23 at Benjamin Hooks Central Library in Memphis, Tennessee. More details will be shared once I receive them, and I'm honored to be included in this event that's sponsored by the Memphis Public Library.

Now to explain the title of this post. Anyone (particularly those of a certain older age) who moves from one location to another knows the work and stress it takes to get to that new stage in your life. In our attempt to downsize, we go through boxes that have been stored in the basement or on closet shelves; we sort through things we'd like to keep, items we can donate to charity and some things that simply need to be tossed onto the garbage heap. I did this recently (moving from Chicago to Memphis due to my husband's new job) and found a scrapbook that I put together as a teenager. On one of the pages was a poem that I'd cut and pasted from some publication. I think it resonates with most women, regardless of age, because the words can apply to various stages of life. 

Titled Comes the Dawn, the poem's author was listed as Unknown on my scrapbook page. After searching online, I found that the work has been attributed to three authors: Veronica A. Shoffstall (with a different title, After a While), Judith Evans, and Jorge Luis Borges (Argentina, 1899-1986). I have no idea who really wrote it, but it seems the popular consensus is Shoffstall, who gave a copyright date of 1971 to the poem. 

I'd like to share the words here. To the author of this lovely piece: thank you for the simple, beautiful words to Comes the Dawn (After a While).

                                             

After a while you learn the subtle difference

Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning

And company doesn’t mean security,

And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts

And presents aren’t promises,

And you begin to accept your defeats

With your head up and your eyes open

With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,

And you learn to build all your roads on today,

Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans,

And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn

That even sunshine burns if you get too much.

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure...

That you really are strong,

And you really do have worth.

And you learn and learn...

                                             With every goodbye you learn.

Oswego Literary Festival 2015

Just a reminder that I'll be participating in the Oswego Literary Festival this Saturday, October 3, 2015, sponsored by the Village of Oswego Cultural Arts Commission and the Oswego Public Library District. The event runs from 9am - 1pm and will be held at the Oswego Public Library District's Oswego Campus located at 32 West Jefferson, Oswego, IL.

Copies of my books Daniel's Esperanza, Funny Pages and Billy's First Dance will be for sale; I'll be happy to sign copies and provide information on the current project (historical fiction manuscript in the works).

Many authors with books to sell with be there. Stop by and say hello to a lot of hard-working, creative folks. We're appreciative of the support!

Catch a Bunch of Authors 2015 - Aurora Public Library Author Fair

This Saturday, September 12, 2015, I'll be participating in the annual "Catch a Bunch of Authors" event sponsored by the Aurora Public Library in Aurora, Illinois.  The author fair runs from 2pm - 4pm and will be held at the new Santori Public Library of Aurora, 101 S. River Street.

Copies of my books, Daniel's Esperanza, Billy's First Dance and Funny Pages will be for sale, and I'll be happy to sign them, too.  Information will be available about the latest book I'm writing, as well.

If you're in the Chicagoland area, please stop by and say hello, and see this beautiful new facility.  Plus, over forty authors will be in attendance, with many books for sale.  Thanks to all who come out and support us.

Events Plus Sara Teasdale's Poetry

A couple of upcoming events this fall include some author fairs I've been invited to attend.  First, the Aurora Public Library's "Catch a Bunch of Authors" on Saturday, September 12, 2015, at the new Santori Branch from 2pm - 4pm in Aurora, Illinois.  I will also be at the Oswego Literary Festival, Saturday, October 3, 2015 from 9am - 1pm at the Oswego, Illinois Public Library.  I will be selling and signing copies of my books, Daniel's Esperanza, Funny Pages and Billy's First Dance at both events.  If you're in the Chicagoland area on those dates and are free, stop by and say hello.  Many talented folks attend these festivals.

Just a reminder, if ebooks are your preference, Daniel's Esperanza is now available for Kindle download on Amazon for only $3.99, and Funny Pages for only $4.95. Paperback versions of all three are still for sale, too.

Work continues on my new manuscript, Williamsburg Hill, and my goal is to finish the first draft by the end of October.  We shall see.

As I'm always searching for blog ideas, I thought I'd share some poetry by the late Sara Teasdale. Simple, powerful, moving are words I would use to describe her work. As always, thanks for reading this blog. I appreciate it very much.

I Love You
By Sara Teasdale

When April bends above me
And finds me fast asleep,
Dust need not keep the secret
A live heart died to keep.

When April tells the thrushes,
The meadow-larks will know,
And pipe the three words lightly
To all the winds that blow.

Above his roof the swallows,
In notes like far-blown rain,
Will tell the little sparrow
Beside his window-pane.

O sparrow, little sparrow,
When I am fast asleep,
Then tell my love the secret
That I have died to keep.

Thoughts
By Sara Teasdale

When I am all alone
Envy me most,
Then my thoughts flutter round me
In a glimmering host;

Some dressed in silver,
Some dressed in white,
Each like a taper
Blossoming light;

Most of them merry,
Some of them grave,
Each of them lithe
As willows that wave;

Some bearing violets,
Some bearing bay,
One with a burning rose
Hidden away —

When I am all alone
Envy me then,
For I have better friends
Than women and men.

The Look
By Sara Teasdale

      Strephon kissed me in the spring,

      Robin in the fall,

      But Colin only looked at me

      And never kissed at all.

      Strephon's kiss was lost in jest,

      Robin's lost in play,

      But the kiss in Colin's eyes

      Haunts me night and day.

Author Event at Yorkville Public Library

The Yorkville Public Library will be hosting its first annual Author Event, Saturday, March 28th, 2015 from 10am-2pm. If you're in the Yorkville, Illinois or Chicagoland area and have some free time, stop by and say hello. Just posting this as a reminder that I'll be there signing and selling copies of my books.  A list of all participating authors is provided below...hope to see some of your smiling faces there.