A Year's Gifts In Brief

Snow has fallen throughout the day. A blanket of dry, white fluff has sifted over the lawn and through the trees. Now and then the wind moans like a tired old grandmother as I sit here tapping on the keyboard. Outside, Venus and the Moon light up the winter sky. It is the last day of the year, time to take stock of the bounty that's rolled in during twelve months of hard work.

First comes the gift of family. My mother's health is improving after a scary time of crisis. Other members of my extended family (cousins, aunts, uncles) have come together all year to support each other through the loss of a beloved uncle. Our family has once again demonstrated its vast capacity to love, forgive, and remain crazy beyond words. Friends come next. This year brought the blessing of new friends in places where I once felt like a stranger. These people have helped me create links to support my writing and the writing of longtime colleagues. Feels like a great harvest. Old friends cannot be overlooked. Some have struggled with obstacles they've never faced before. Their love and humor in the face of adversity is exemplary. Finally, my life would come to a screeching halt if it were not for the insight and work ethic of my clients. I've been blessed with the opportunity to write for people who are leaders in their fields, who have spent their lives helping others, who never lose sight of what is essential. Although deadlines can create enormous stress, these people make me feel that my work means something, that writing well can provide visionary people with the tools they need to help those most in need.

Finally, every day I spend at Pennsyl Pointe is a beautifully wrapped gift. Each time I look out the window at those giant pines, those rising stars, my heart fills with gratitude. The charm and magic of this place keeps me aware of how fortunate I am -- even when my wallet is empty. When we remain mindful of the simple blessings around us, the threat of scarcity is transformed into an old wives tale. Tonight I am the richest writer on earth -- J.K. Rowling, notwithstanding.

Winter Meditations

Mystery lies at the core of the creative impulse. At this time of year, there is so much imagery in the environment to stimulate creative thinking. Smells are abundant: the fir branches give off the fragrance of winter; burning candles perfume the air. Candle light casts shadows over the walls. Winter wind whipping through the trees provides an eerie soundtrack punctuated by the crackling fireplace.

Yes, this is the time when the muses circle around us and provide a clear pathway to creative expression. The sacred space between the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one is a perfect time to think about what we have done badly or well. It's also an opportunity to imagine the future and develop our vision for what comes next. More than anything, this is a time to express gratitude to those who have contributed to the richness of our lives throughout the past year. Today I plan to sit by the fireplace and formulate a list. It won't be one that itemizes things I want from Santa. It's a list that describes the big gifts I've already received and how much they mean to me.

Pennsyl Pointe Writers to Read in Jim Thorpe

It's been a busy week for most people. Although rumors suggest that no one has any money to spend, the streets are still crowded with people looking for last minute holiday gifts. I'd like to suggest searching for that elusive present at Sellers Books and Fine Art in downtown Jim Thorpe. I'll be reading there on Saturday, December 20th at 3 in the afternoon. I'm looking forward to hearing the work of some fellow writers from the Liberties Scribblers group in Philadelphia and from another Pennsyl Pointer from Carbon County. Come out and join us for a little holiday fun. The theme of the reading is Trojan Gifts -- you know, those gifts that have unintended, or unforseen consequences. Refreshments and scintillating conversation are sure to follow our readings of original fiction.

Remembering the Gifts of Paris: Shakespeare and Company

As deep cold hardens the Pocono earth, it’s hard to remember back as far as April. Spring seems like a dream I had a hundred years ago -- when I was Harry Potter’s age. But it’s only been a few months since I spent some wonderful weeks in Paris with friends I hadn’t seen in many years. My trip was planned around spending some time in a writing workshop at the great Shakespeare and Company Bookstore across from the Cathedral of Notre Dame. At the time, I felt depleted from all the work I’d done fixing up Pennsyl Pointe. I was afraid that I’d neglected my writing for too long and wondered if it was even worth it to finish my novel, The Truth about Pluto. But Paris is a destination known to open the eyes of many beleaguered artists. I decided I would go there and give my novel a “do or die” moment by sharing it with an unknown group of international readers/writers. Thumbs up, I continue. Thumbs down, I slink back to my established freelance business.

No choice could have buoyed me more. The city was beautiful. In every part of Paris lush gardens were waking to the gentle tap of April rain. At my friend’s house in Le Marais, I met a variety of artists and professors who provided encouragement as I tried to prepare myself for the writing workshop. One person in particular, Marylene Lerault, was very helpful. She is a gifted painter and visual artist who graciously agreed to help me taste French food and wine for some articles I was writing. Marylene has been living the French creative life for a long time. Click here to look at samples of Marylene's wonderful paintings. She is married to a musician whose talents are also well known throughout Paris. Marylene and her husband know that the secret to a satisfying creative career is that you must love the process –- audience response and market success are not within your control.

In the end, the Shakespeare workshop was wonderful. I met fascinating people from all over the world and my work got a very good reception. In fact, the participants helped me think about the core message of my novel in a completely different way. I returned to the states with Edith Piaf tunes in my head and an unquenchable thirst for Sauvignon Blanc. The work of editing continues even as the snow swirls outside my window.