© irene waters 2018
It is hard to believe that this week has gone by so quickly. It seems like yesterday that I wrote my last coffee post but as the link up was down I didn’t catch up with all the coffee shares from those I hope are still participating. As it is the single most important thing happening in my life at the moment, at the risk of sounding repetitious I have to start with the publication of my memoir
My order will arrive Monday and Tuesday and I am looking forward to holding it in my hand. It is hard to believe that a manuscript I had hoped to have finished for my mother’s 70th birthday – she is now 90 – has finally grown wings and left home to roost, I hope, in homes around the world. It is my story telling of the period of our life that we were business partners with the paramount chief of a small remote island in the Pacific. It is a book of customs and cults, chiefs and witchdoctors and a true story of survival with limited resources.
This has kept me busy most of the week as I worked on details for a launch. I am going to post how I went about publication and what needs to be attended to post publication. I will start that this week.
I’m also feeling happy that I have finally put pen to paper and created. I felt that I had lost all my creativity as I became overwhelmed with life but this week I posted Tuvalu Thoughts and it gives me confidence to keep going.
Now that my Mum doesn’t drive I have had driving duties most days. The one day I told her to catch a taxi the company sent a maxi cab that is like a mini bus. There was no way my mother could climb into it and apparently the driver lifted her in to Mum’s embarrassment. At least now she knows to ask for a normal car to come to pick her up.
I am reading The Merry Go Round in the Sea by an Australian author Randolf Stowe. This is the third time I have read it and I believe it to be a classic Australian novel. Are you reading anything? Have you been to any good films lately. It’s over to you for you to tell me how your week has been. Thank you for dropping in for coffee, it is lovely to see you. Thanks to eclecticali who is our host of the weekend coffee share.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
YAY!!!! I have just settled back with the promise I will begin my heap of procrastinated work after just one lazy cup of coffee. And here you are. Helping me be lazy.
Because it is hell week at my day job. And I will get through it, I always have, and now I know I won’t always will. (I am down grading my job next fall. Half the money but less responsibility and more time to take better care of myself.)
As I read your post I am very excited about reading your book which is on its way. When I get through this coming week I will put some time into talking up your book. (I have to manage my time much more carefully than I’ve been doing, starting right after one more cup of coffee.)
Anne’s latest book sounds as if it will also be very good (differently) and I also look forward to reading that. The Memoirist and the Fictionist!
My news I suppose, other than feeling loads lighter having made a decision to change my life, is that I also put a book out. It’s a great feeling, like stepping out of a plane and suddenly not sure if you are wearing a rucksack or a parachute.
I know your book will be a wonderful read in so many ways. I’ll spend Christmas in the Pacific while snow flies outside.
Good to have our Sunday again.
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You don’t get Christmas holidays do you? Our teachers are busy now but they have a six week break to look forward to. I’m glad you are looking at taking it easy but I bet you will just fill that time and still feel time poor. I look forward to hearing how it goes.
We all seem to be publishing at the moment which is very exciting. I had seen that you had published and I’m looking forward to reading yours and Anne’s although I am having trouble getting hold of hers. Like mine, Amazon seem to be having trouble putting the kindle version on their site although it exists at the moment only from the publisher. Down our way or Hawaii? Hope it is great. At least it will give you a bit of warmth.
Lovely to chat with you again D.
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I get a long break in the summer too, but that’s not Christmas around here. So that is seven months away. A week at Christmas when we will head north to snow country and family. My travels to the Pacific will only be via your book!
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LOL. You had me going there or to where ever I thought you were going. Hope you enjoy your time on Tanna.
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I’m so happy to be able to have coffee with you again! It’s been too long! Congratulations on publishing your book—it’s a huge endeavor, and something to be proud of.
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Thanks Diane. I am proud of it. It is also good to be back online seeing friendly faces. Hope all is well with you. cheers Irene
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You do not sound repetitious, please share and share and share. It is such a rewarding feeling to have a piece published that has received so much time and attention. Congratulations!
I am reading 2 things. First I am reading through the other author’s stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Wonder of Christmas and I am reading book 10 in the Wheel of Time of series it is called Cross Roads of Twilight. However, to be honest I haven’t got to far with book 10. Thanks for the coffee.
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Thank you so much. I admit I feel like shouting it from the rooftops. I wonder if you ever get used to it. I must get a copy of Chicken soup for the soul.I take it you have a story in there.
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I always have a book nearby. Currently it is Ahab’s Return by Jeffrey Ford, a spin-off of Moby Dick.
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One of my favourites. I’ll have to look out for it.
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I am loving the book so far.
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Hi Irene.
Your book sounds very compelling and I’m a real lover of non-fiction so I think I’l be reading it soon. I am currently reading Kathy Lette’s The Boy Who Fell to Earth: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/my-son-shines-in-the-dark/news-story/134e849c07e350ee72d4be3c200454a2
I’m about half way and did most of my reading on the train, which really helps me get into a book, where I can stop start a lot reading at home or mostly not get started at all. Have you read any of her work? She has an amazing vocabulary and I’ve seen her called the “Princess of the pun” but to me it seems too intense and like every second word is a brilliant flourish and I think it’s also how she talks. Wondering if you’ve read of her books?
I’m also trying to read more short stories as I’m wanting to get into writing longer stories about the 1000-2000 word limit. I bought a book of Proust’s short stories which I transferred from handbag to coffee table to beside my bed that it disappeared in the last week and then I spotted another book of short stories by Edgar Allan Poe. I’m really looking forward to reading them. My ambitious mind is aiming for one story per day but I haven’t opened the cover yet.l
Hope you have a great week.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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I’ve heard of the book Roewena but not read it. The article is wonderful. Didn’t you just love the types of questions that the child asked his mother. No I haven’t read anything by her but it sounds as though I should as an Australian author.
I too seem to buying a lot of short stories of late. My next publication will be a book of short stories and personal essays and I think it is good to research the field prior to entering it. I’ll look forward to hearing how you progress.
By the way – I read your trip to Elizabeth Bay which I loved but I have a feeling I got called away before I could comment. A great post and I can imagine the feeling of connection.
Have a great week
Cheers Irene
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Thanks very much, Irene. It’s great to share an interview like that one with Kathy Lette with a few people and compare notes. Dopey face here saw the book beside my bed and realized that I’m actually reading a different book of hers. It is actually called: “Best Laid Plans”.
Well, I’m due for coffee down the street and about to run late.
Best wishes,
Ro
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LOL
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I’m looking forward to learning more about your book launch and very excited for you.
It’s so hard to assist aging parents. We love them dearly but we can’t be their caregiver and companion all the time. It sounds like your mom is still capable of making decent executive decisions. I bet she’s not the only person who wasn’t able to anticipate the high step of a mini-van. Frankly, the van should have been equipped with a lift step.
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Although Christmas is a good time for selling books (or at least I’m hoping) it is not a good time for a launch as everyone is so busy. I got a radio spot in January today so I might hold off the actual launch until then.
I know that I can’t be there all the time – and Mum is pretty good about it. The maxi van was a learning curve for all of us. Of course it should have a lift step.
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You stuck with your vision for a memoir and saw it come to fruition. No small feat. I’m sure your Mum must be delighted with your book (although not so much with the maxi taxi).
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Yes Mum is over the moon. I’m glad she got to see it happen and perhaps she is the only reason it did happen.
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I have an aunt (Todd’s but I claim her as mine) who is my reason for keeping on with getting it done and done well. After all — she’ll be reading it! I think we all need such a person.
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and we are lucky to have them.
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