In response to an email I’d sent to my publisher, I received a reply beginning with “Take a breath” followed by a smile emoji. It made me laugh. You who know me well are probably smiling too. Yes, I admit, sometimes I have a tendency to get a bit keyed up in enthusiasm and excitement. I too, like my dad, can be impatient and absolutely hate to procrastinate on what feels like important things. The play on my upcoming book title made this all the more humorous. So, I’m listening. I’m coupling this advice with the takeaway from my crafted fairy tale in From First Breath to Last. Yes, I’m practicing adapting old stories that aren’t always working for me. I won’t spoil what’s hidden in that chapter before you read it; let’s just say it has become a repeated mantra for me.

So, yes, I’ll take a breath as I share a few morsels of news.

First, From First Breath to Last: A Story About Love, Womanhood and Aging, is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Keep in mind that you can always order it through your favorite bookstore or pick up a copy at one of my book events. And, eventually, it will join my other books in my favorite libraries.

Next, in case you didn’t see my essay posted in Women Writers, Women(‘s) Books, please check it out. Huge shout out to our Writers Table writing group, as always, for helping me further my writing and supporting our safe space. I hope you will read it: it feels authentic and important to me, even as I reread it.

https://booksbywomen.org/writing-legacy-and-things-left-behind/

And finally, my upcoming book events. I’m hopeful you will be able to find one of these to join me at. If you are outside of the geographical reach, stay tuned for some other plans as we drift into summer. I too have agreed already to join a couple of book groups – let me know if that fits your interests.

• From First Breath Kick Off, Signing and Open House, White Rabbit Books and Gifts, 503 Main Street, Oregon City, Wed., March 27, 5-7 pm. Stay tuned about news of this event to benefit Clackamas Women’s Services.
  
  
• From First Breath to Last: In Conversation with Shelly Parini, Willamette Ale & Cider House, 1720 Willamette Falls Drive, West Linn, Sunday, April 7, 4-6 pm.
  
  
• From First Breath to Last: In Conversation with Joan Corella, Annie Bloom’s Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219. Thursday, April 11, 2024 7:00 pm.
  
  
• From First Breath to Last: In Conversation, Missoula Public Library, Cooper Room, 455 E. Main Street, Missoula. Sunday, April 21, 2024, 2:30-4:30. Music by Flathead Lake Monsters (smooth, jazz and blues), Books by Fact & Fiction Bookstore.
  
  
• Developing Compassion by Honoring Stories, Northwest Narrative Medicine Collaborative Community of Practice Workshop, Portland, Tuesday, June 18, 2024 (details forthcoming).
  

Okay. Now I’m going to go take a few deep breaths. Thanks for joining me on this journey.