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Weekly Wrap: Making a Difference in 2008

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We spent New Year’s with our friends who, if anything tragic ever happens to Mr. Henderson and me, will take custody of our kids. It’s a house full of sarcasm, heckling, eye-rolling, laughter, and elementary school kids drinking coffee on the weekends. In other words, we approve.

Our friends have three daughters, and they are probably the closest thing our boys will ever have to cousins. The kids all woke up New Year’s Day, built a fort that used every blanket and pillow in the house, and hid underneath with walkie talkies, announcing Code Red alerts whenever they saw a grown-up. It was the girls’ idea, but inside the fort, they decided to eat sardines and anchovies for their first meal of the new year. This small detail will become important later when I explain my resolution for 2008.

*

I spent most of 2007 holed up in my writing cave. I was pretty much unavailable to my neighbors – always rushing, always trying to get out of a conversation and back to my book. I went on vacations with my laptop, sat in the living room with papers between me and my family. The focus was great for the book, but this year I want to look outward. I want to be more present about what’s going on around me, and I want to take the time to be sure the decisions I make day-to-day reflect my beliefs.

I’m going to share with you two personal decisions I made last year that I’m going to keep up in 2008. First, I completely gave up bottled water. And more specifically, Fruit2O, which I bought by the case every week at Costco. I bought all that Fruit2O, thinking it was a good thing to drink more water (especially if it was peach and grape flavored) – but the benefit to me left a lot of plastic waste for all of you. So now it’s water in a glass; and when I play soccer, I take a thermos.

If you think you’re seeing blond highlights, they’re not blond.

The other personal commitment I made is not to dye my hair, despite the constant pressure I get from my hairdresser. He loves to point out all the gray and thinks the world would be better if I had highlights. I tell him I think the gray is sexy. Besides, I earned those gray hairs. But I have other reasons. One is environmental. Those chemicals are terrible for the environment, not to mention the folks breathing them in on the spot. My second reason is financial. There’s not a lot of cash left over once the Hendersons pay their bills, and that money can go to Nature Conservancy or hair dye. Spending it on my hair would, frankly, make me feel shallow and hypocritical. How can I say I believe in one thing and then go do another? But the main reason I resolve not to dye my hair has to do with the girls eating anchovies and sardines in the fort.

Right now, those girls are smart and bold. They’re making forts. They’re doing spy duty. They stand with their hands on their hips and tell you their opinions. They know who Barack Obama is. They know why their grandpappy had to sneak out of Hungary when he was eight. They have big ideas about what they want to be and how the world could be better. Thirty years from now, the last thing I hope for these girls is that they’re standing in front of the mirror, criticizing their looks, and putting all their extra time and money into hair dye and wrinkle cream. There are more important things for smart and fiesty anchovies-for-breakfast types to do with their futures. I’ve thought about this all week, and I’m convinced that we do a disservice to young girls when we panic about looking older.

It’s not that I’m not panicked. If you want to feel shitty about the way you look, open any magazine, look at any ad.

I did a little Google search to see the difference between Hollywood looks and normal people looks. Here’s 40 in Hollywood and some 40 year old who posted her photo on a dating site.

Hollywood 50; normal 50:

Hollywood 60, and a lady I’ll bet has never considered plastic surgery or face creams:

It’s damn hard to grow old gracefully in this country, but what if we take this burden off the little girls of today by talking less about our looks and spending less time trying to pretend we’re still twenty? (It’s not like we’re fooling anyone!)

We all know it’s the heart that matters. But how many of us, in the daily choices we make, are spending our time, energy and money on what we believe?

Imagine if these ten-year-old girls, when they are my age, are so perfectly content with the natural changes that happen in their bodies that they spend their time pursuing dreams bigger than trying to achieve Hollywood beauty? Imagine if the magazines were full of normal women? And rather than ads about diets and Botox and plastic surgery, imagine if there were articles on these young women as they run for President or create great architecture or write great literature?

I’m not saying it’s easy to lose the crutch of beauty, but I do believe it’s my generation’s responsibility to change the message we’re sending to young girls. Just a thought.

*

One last thing. Speaking of heart…

If you already know Patry Francis, I don’t need to tell you what a wise and generous writer she is. If you don’t know her yet, take a trip over to her blog, Simply Wait, where she writes about her life with inspiring, unsentimental candor.

Patry is one of the pillars in the writers community, who knows the long haul of writing a book and taking those rejections and reworking the book and knocking on doors – and somehow, even experiencing these blows, she manages to show grace and compassion and joy. One of the best thrills I know is to see folks who are both great writers and great souls get their breaks in the business. So when it happens to someone you love, someone you’ve been rooting for, and during the time of celebration, you find out they got diagnosed with cancer, what do you do?

If we could cure her, we would. We have to leave that to the doctors. But can we take up the job of promoting her book so she can focus on getting better? Yes, we can!

This is where you come in!

On January 29th, THE LIAR’S DIARY will be released in paperback. And we’re holding a huge, joint-effort blogging day for all those who want to show support for Patry, for cancer survivors, for writers helping writers, and for the strength and spirit of the blogging community.

I’ll tell you how. On January 29th, use your blog, your MySpace page, your Publishers Marketplace page, whatever you’ve got, big or small, and point people in the direction of Patry’s book. You can even come to LitPark on the 29th and copy whatever I’ve posted and use it verbatim on your own blog. There will be photos, promotional videos, free books for folks who’d like to write reviews.

Just to give you a very small idea of what you’ll see on the 29th, I’d like to thank the folks who have already stepped forward to help: Laura Benedict, who came up with the idea. Patry’s editor at Dutton, Julie Doughty. Her agent at the Jean Naggar Literary Agency, Alice Tasman. Her publicist, Laurie Connors. Eileen Hutton at Brilliance Audio. Dan Conaway from Writers House. Jeff Kleinman at Folio Literary Management. Eve Bridburg at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth literary agency. And…

Mario Acevedo
Susan Adrian
Samina Ali
Christa Allan
Anne-Marie
Joelle Anthony
Jorge Argueta
Melanie Avila
Tricia Ares
Backspace
Backstory
Terry Bain
Gail Baker – The Debutante Ball
Anjali Banerjee
Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Elizabeth Bartasius
Carolyn Burns Bass
Brett Battles
Laura Benedict
Pinckney Benedict
Janet Berliner
William Bernhardt
Alexander Besher
Bev
Marcie Beyatte
Brenda Birch
Roberto Bonazzi
Bookfinds
Raven Bower
Laura Bowers
Beatrice Bowles
Tara Bradford
Gayle Brandeis
Stacy Brazalovich
Susan Breen – Gotham Writers Workshops
Heather Brewer
Eve Bridburg – Zachary Shuster Harmsworth
Sassy Brit
Heatheraynne Brooks
Josie Brown
Pat Brown
Ruth Brown
Ken Bruen
Rachel Kramer Bussel
Aldo Calcagno
Austin S. Camacho
Bill Cameron
Lorenzo Carcaterra
Vincent Carrella
Karen DeGroot Carter
Rosemary Carstens
Cynthia Clark – Futures Mysterious Anthology Magazine
Jon Clinch
Kamela Cody
Oline H. Cogdill – Sun-Sentinal
Tish Cohen
Eileen Cruz Coleman
Laurie Connors – Penguin
Eileen Cook
Richard Cooper
David Corbett
Auria Cortes
Bill Crider – Pop Culture Magazine
Kim Cristofoli
Ann Mare Cummins
Sheila Curran
Kristie Cutter
Jordan Dane
Josephine Damian
Daryl Darko
A.J. Davis
Kelli Davis
Alyssa Day
Alma Hromic Deckert
Jim DeFelice
Mike Dellosso
Katrina Denza
Bella DePaulo
Karen Dionne
Felicia Donovan
Julie Doughty – Dutton
Gerry Doyle
Firoozeh Dumas
Christine Eldrin
J.T. Ellison – Killer Year
Sheila Clover English – Circle of Seven Productions
Kate Epstein – the Epstein Literary Agency
Kathryn Esplin
Rachel Fershleiser at SMITH Magazine
Ryan Field
Michael A. FitzGerald
William Floyd
Natasha Fondren
Jamie Ford
Connie May Fowler
Heather Fowler
Therese Fowler
Jenifer Fox
Thaisa Frank
Michelle Gable
Gary Gach
Leighton Gage
Neil Gaiman
Colin Galbraith
Jayson Gallaway
Jane Ganahl – Red Room
Erika-Marie S. Geiss
Linda Gerber
Shane Gericke
Tess Gerritsen
Karin Gillespie
Anne Glamore
Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Jewelle Gomez
Susan Helene Gottfried
Deborah Grabien
Elizabeth Graham
Caroline Grant
Robin Grantham
Bob Gray – Shelf Awareness
Nancy O. Greene
Robert Grudin
Lisa Guidarini
David Habbin
Jim Hanas
Lynette Hart
Melanie Harvey
Michael Haskins
Melanie Lynn Hauser
Bill Hayes
Susan Henderson
Heidi the Hick
Georgia Hesse
Billie Hinton
Vicki Hinze
Lori Hope
Khaled Hosseini
Eileen Hutton – Brilliance Audio
Gina Hyams
International Thriller Writers
David Isaak
Susan Ito
Lisa Jackson
Arachne Jericho
Allison Johnson
Jen Jordan – Crimespree
Jungle Red Writers
Lesley Kagen
Polly Kahl
Jessica Keener
Charles Kelly
Lisa Kenny
Jackie Kessler
Merle Kessler
Kristy Kiernan – Southern Authors Blog
A.S. King
Jeff Kleinman – Folio Literary Management
Sandra Kring
Kyra
R.D. Laban
Rebecca Laffar-Smith – Writers Roundabout
Clair Lamb
Daphne Larkin
Larramie
Judy Merrill Larson
Caroline Leavitt
Leah
Virginia Lee
Leslie Levine
Mary Lewis
Richard Lewis
Liane
Sharon Linnea
Julie Anne Long
CJ Lyons
Jonathan Maberry
Amy MacKinnon – The Writers Group
Tim Maleeny
Ric Marion
Nancy Martin
Adrienne Mayor
L.C. McCabe
Ellen Meister
Melba
Christa Miller
Kyle Minor
Jacquelyn Mitchard
P. A. Moed
Terri Molina
Pat Montandon
David Montgomery
Alexis Moore
Joe Moore – Inkspot
Amanda Morgan
Sarie Morrell
Murderati
Amy Nathan
“Nathalie”
Tia Nevitt
Nicole
Carolyn North
Martha O’Connor
Andrea Okrentowich
Lori Olivia
Aimee Palooza
Pamela
Michael Palmer
Stephen Parrish
Marie Peck
Marcia Peterson – WOW! Women on Writing
Jason Pinter
Anthony S. Policastro
Douglas Preston
Terese Ramin
Jody Reale
Janet Reid – FinePrint Literary Management
Kamilla Reid
Lance Reynald
Michelle Richmond
Maria Robinson
John Robison
James Rollins
M.J. Rose – Buzz, Balls & Hype
Renee Rosen
Jordan Rosenfeld
Russell Rowland
Anneli Rufus
Hank Ryan
Marcus Sakey
Harris Salat -Visual Thesaurus
Rachel Sarah
Maria Schneider – Writer’s Digest Magazine
Nina Schuyler
Dani Shapiro
Rochelle Shapiro
Charles Shaughnessy
Jessie Sholl
Robert Siegel
Clea Simon
Lynn Sinclair
Shelley Singer
Sisters in Crime
Robin Slick
BPM Smith – Word & Bass
Bridget Smith
Claudia Smith
Kim Smith
Stephie Smith
Alexandra Sokoloff
Char Solomon
James Spring
Emilie Staat
Maryanne Stahl
Bella Stander
Kelli Stanley
Marta Stephens
Bronwyn Storm
Jennifer Talty
Judith Tannenbaum
Mindy Tarquini
Charles R. Temple
The Outfit
David Thayer
Joyce Tremel
Danielle Trussoni
Louise Ure
N. L. Valler
Barbara Vey – Publishers Weekly
Bev Vincent
Brenda Wallace
Therese Walsh – Writer Unboxed
John Warner – Tow Books
Gary Wassner
Brenda Webster
Sarah Weinman
Kimberly M. Wetherell
Dan Wickett – Emerging Writers Network
Jennifer Weiner
Laura Wellner
Susan Wiggs
Liz Wolfe
Cheryl Wyatt
Stephen Wylder
Irvin Yalom
Belle Yang
Dawn Yun
Michele Zackheim
Victoria Zackheim
Ernie Zelinski
Crystal Zevon

And you, too, right? I will link everyone on this list and anyone else who drops me a note in the comments section, telling me you plan to participate on the 29th.

Okay, then. I just wanted to give you a heads-up so you could join the fun!

*

Thank you to this week’s guest, Anthony Marais, and to all who played here. And thank you to everyone who linked to LitPark this week: Xujun Eberlein’s Inside-Out China: A Literary and Cultural Blog, The Very Hot Jews, She Shoots to Conquer. I appreciate those links!

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181 Comments
  • SusanHenderson
    January 3, 2008

    I know this Weekly Wrap is posted earlier than usual, but there was some important business to get out to you guys, and maybe it will explain why I’ve been absent around here. Will catch up today!

  • EllenMeister
    January 3, 2008

    Sue, thank you again for spearheading the campaign to band together for Patry Francis. It’s an extraordinary effort. I wonder if the mainstream media would be interested in this story, thus spreading the word even farther. I imagine The New York Times or Newsweek or some other big consumer publication could be persuaded to report on this. Perhaps there’s a PR person in our midst who could help …

    Ellen Meister (who will have to find some way to give back whatever she takes from the environment for her blond highlights)

    P.S. I’ve been trying for days to log in so I don’t have to post anonymously, but can’t seem to do it. If this winds up posting under my name, I’m even more confused.

  • A.S. King
    January 3, 2008

    As the mother of two girls & the daughter of a barrier-breaking feminist (and as a woman who hasn’t bought make up since 1988) I say YAY Susan for this post!

    I recently saw a People Magazine cover that made my eyes well up. On it, they compared tummies & showed photos of an ex-supermodel who is 41 and has had two children. They mocked her and called her near-perfect tummy every name of ugly in the book. (Who reads this garbage??)
    But it occurred to me that since having my second child 4 months ago, that I was also saying the same nasty things to my near-perfect tummy in my mirror. And then it surfaced that in my near 40 years on earth, I had never – NEVER – seen any pictures of what I’m SUPPOSED to look like! In all this time, I never saw anything but perfect tummies.
    And I wondered why I was being so harsh on myself?
    Somehow, we have to stop this madness.
    Stop buying those magazines.
    Stop torturing ourselves.
    We owe it to our daughters.

    Sorry I’ve been away, Susan. I’m about to dive into edits, too…but I will certainly pop out on the 29th and do whatever I can for Patry.

    Amy

  • Aurelio
    January 3, 2008

    There have been several studies done and most bottled water isn’t as clean as tap water, although if it’s flavored, that’s a different thing, I suppose. I applaud all you’ve shared here, Susan, and I’m here for Patry – count me in.

    I just turned 50 last week, and no, I don’t look Hollywood 50 (thank God.) Regarding getting old: women tell me, “It’s different for men.” Meaning better. No. It’s not. Men are vain too. When once muscular bodies sag, soften, and spread, teeth lengthen and yellow, hair vanishes or grays, or even worse, sprouts where hair has no right sprouting, we cringe . We balk. We deny. We look in the mirror and go, “Who the hell is that…?”

    This is what gives birth to trophy wives, the mid-life flings, the sports cars, the second marriages and second families. Set-pieces to aid the denial that we’re old.

    But… I love being 50. I love the fact that I am half-a-century old, that I was around before PC’s and cell phones and the internet. I feel I’ve earned every one of my gray hairs, like merit badges to show I’ve accomplished something. Been places. Done things. Youth is young, and attractive… and naive. It stresses out about incredibly stupid things, like whether or not it’s “cool” enough or “popular” enough or “famous” or “rich” enough, and especially if it’s “sexy” enough. Enough.

    At 50, I can just be me. I’m finally free from all that other silly crap. It’s an epiphany.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 3, 2008

    I love you, Aurelio!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 3, 2008

    Who’s your mom, Amy? I know just what diving into edits means! Strength to you! I’ve been listening to To Kill a Mockingbird on audio to prepare me for my next round of edits. I like to get a book with good poetry and structure in my ear when I’m in the final stretch.

  • jodyreale
    January 3, 2008

    Count me out for highlights, and in for promoting Patris at Kill Your Lunch Hour.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 3, 2008

    This campaign has so many heads now, it’s kind of thrilling and overwhelming how big it’s becoming. Thank you for being a part of it, Ellen (and for the way cool show you took me to last month)!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 3, 2008

    Ha! You got it, Jody!

  • troutbum70
    January 3, 2008

    My ex told me yesterday that she was giving up bottled water, she read a sidebar in Oparh about how much petroleum it took to produce the bottles and transport them to consumers. I had always told her that bottled water was a waste and that we were in for trouble if we allowed our access to water to become privitized, well at least she belived Oparh. I have lobbyed my state legislature for the past few years to prevent a pipeline from SE Oklahoma to the western suburbs of Oklahoma City. Why should we deplete a aquifer to expand into an area that does not have the resources to sustain an ever growing population? Water is a big deal to me, so I’m glad to hear you are doing your part to make a better world.
    I love women and find them beautiful at all ages. I like freckles and scars, the little things on a body that shows that they have lived a life. I love to see a woman dressed up and happy but I also like to see them with there hair pulled back and no make up having coffee.
    Look at a mens magazine and you will see the same things going on there, no make up but hair products and facial cleansers, how to have the perfect body. Find a hobby other than going to the gym to look good, it seems such a waste to be so concerned about appearance and less about substance. Anyway we must raise our children to be confident in who they are and give them the values to make a difference in the world no matter how big or small.
    I love sardines and my boys eat them too.

  • Kimberly
    January 3, 2008

    I’ll be happy to link the info on my shiny new blog. I’m sure all six of my faithful readers (and one faithful commenter – YAY Nathalie!) will happily support Patry! 🙂 Hell, I’ll even buy a bunch in advance as 2008 birthday presents!

  • CJ Lyons
    January 3, 2008

    Susan, thanks for your support of Patry! It’s so amazing how the writing community community comes together in time of need. Like I always say, writers aren’t really in competition with each other because readers always want more great books!
    CJ

  • Nathalie
    January 3, 2008

    And thanks to you for leaving a nice comment on my story at Six Sentences!

  • Nathalie
    January 3, 2008

    Good idea for your friend! I’ll gladly support the action both on my Live Journal and on that dreaded MySpace page of mine.

    And a great hoorray to you for refusing to dye your hair (can you guess? I don’t dye mine either)
    I do find pictures in fashon magazines scarry (and I don’t even have children) : I think they are creating freaky monsters status images in the mind of the readers. The pictures of the holliwood stars you put up are completely fake either: the same stars without make up would look completely different. And that Hollywood 60 years old is scary. I much rather prefer the face with a story.
    I wrote several stories on the subject (the normality of ageing is a fairly recurrent theme of mine): I’d wish more people had more sense…

  • gayle
    January 3, 2008

    Thank you for this beautiful post, Susan. I agree–we need to see more real women in the media. I worry so much about how our culture teaches us to only live our bodies from the outside in, to only care about how we look on the surface, rather than finding ways to be fully at home inside our skin. Please count me in to blog for Patry–what a loving convergence!

    xo
    gayle

  • aimeepalooza
    January 3, 2008

    I am very forgetful so I will need reminding, but I will help out. I don’t have huge numbers of readers but I’ll do what I can.
    I must say, I was struck at how much more beautiful I think non-Hollywood women are. I love the curves and wrinkles. Call me crazy but I think the natural women are lovely.
    Much of the so called flaws on my body are what I call my battles scares, and dang it I earned every one! I’ll keep em, thanks!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 3, 2008

    I agree. And not to put down the Hollywood women either because it must be pure hell to try to maintain a look like that, but if you’d been through some trauma and one of these women came up to hug you, all instincts (mine anyway) say I’d feel more comforted by the real looking women.

    This is just a little thing and I have to mess with the spacing here on purpose so this person doesn’t Google himself and read this, but the last Ni le Rod gers gala I volunteered at, there was a huge star who went through the back doors because she thought she was too fat to go through the paparazzi line. The fact that she had ball-busting talent wasn’t enough. We’re always so quick to cut ourselves down.

    Thank you for helping Patry! Don’t worry, I’ll remind everyone!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 3, 2008

    Gayle, thank you so much for helping to support Patry and also for supporting all women. xo

  • SusanHenderson
    January 3, 2008

    Thank you, Nathalie!

    And you’re right about the freakish wax museum look. And yet, it’s so easy to want that for yourself!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 3, 2008

    CJ! Thanks for being here!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 3, 2008

    Michael, you need to turn this into an essay and send it somewhere. But before you do, you better spell Oprah right!

  • Nathalie
    January 3, 2008

    And yet, I’ve never felt the urge (I know, I come from a different planet), always found it so bizarre.

  • troutbum70
    January 3, 2008

    oops……. I should watch her show, then maybe I could spell her name.

  • A.S. King
    January 3, 2008

    I do the same – I read mostly poetry when I’m polishing.
    (My mom? She’s just my mom! But was the first woman at her 1970s board table and has some amazing stories.)

    Diving (a 203C – Back one-and-a-half somersaults, tuck)

  • maryanne Stahl
    January 3, 2008

    I absolutely want to join in promoting Patry on Jan 29. Please hook me up with any reminders or whatnot.

    As for your resolutions: I stopped drinking water from plastic (for several reasons) and got a cool stainless water bottle for my birthday, which I take with me to school.

    hair dye: sigh. my hair is really black and the grey really shows up. I don’t spend the money to go to the hairdresser–for anything. I even cut my own hair, such as it is. but I do color the roots myself because I teach school and I think grey hair would make the kids think of me as a lot older. not that they don’t know my age…I guess it’s vanity. sigh but I applaud you.
    .
    yesterday I briefly caught some tv program about a v. rich Beverly Hills girl getting her daddy to spend MANY MANY thousands of dollars on her sweet 26 party. she wanted to be the envy of everyone at school. etc etc. I was sickened by the waste, of resources and spirit, almost to the point of being dumbfounded. imagine if this girl’s daddy began a charitable work in her name? or even took her traveling. ANYTHING other than the many thousands spent to rent a beach house and decorate it entirely pink for one night.

    anyway, yeah. (not sure my name will show up when I post, so…it’s maryanne stahl.)

  • maryanne Stahl
    January 3, 2008

    I absolutely want to join in promoting Patry on Jan 29. Please hook me up with any reminders or whatnot.

    As for your resolutions: I stopped drinking water from plastic (for several reasons) and got a cool stainless water bottle for my birthday, which I take with me to school.

    hair dye: sigh. my hair is really black and the grey really shows up. I don’t spend the money to go to the hairdresser–for anything. I even cut my own hair, such as it is. but I do color the roots myself because I teach school and I think grey hair would make the kids think of me as a lot older. not that they don’t know my age…I guess it’s vanity. sigh but I applaud you.
    .
    yesterday I briefly caught some tv program about a v. rich Beverly Hills girl getting her daddy to spend MANY MANY thousands of dollars on her sweet 26 party. she wanted to be the envy of everyone at school. etc etc. I was sickened by the waste, of resources and spirit, almost to the point of being dumbfounded. imagine if this girl’s daddy began a charitable work in her name? or even took her traveling. ANYTHING other than the many thousands spent to rent a beach house and decorate it entirely pink for one night.

    anyway, yeah. (not sure my name will show up when I post, so…it’s maryanne stahl.)

  • Katrina Denza
    January 3, 2008

    I’m definitely ready to support Patry. Count me in. And thanks for getting me thinking about my own dye jobs and water bottles.

    xoxoxKat

  • Lisa Kenney
    January 3, 2008

    Please count me in to support Patry on the 29th. She’s very special to me as she is to so many of us.

  • Lisa_Kenney
    January 3, 2008

    Patry is an amazing woman and she’s been a wonderful friend. Please count me in on the 29th.

  • Sarah Bain
    January 3, 2008

    Okay, I’ve been reading and watching and listening and not posting. Because what could I possibly do this year to change the world. When one has experienced powerlessness, there is, I think, a freedom that comes with that. A freedom to say, ‘fuck this’ or ‘who the hell cares’ but then when I was walking my dogs yesterday morning, I ran into a woman and her daughter, twice–once on my way up a hill, and once coming down another hill 8 blocks away. We were apparently going in opposite directions but ending up in the same place. The girl was four or four and a half. I imagined her to be about my daughter, Grace’s age, who would be 5 on June 1st if she were here. And the little girl was crying and the mom was dragging her along through the snow, through the 8 or 10 or 12 blocks they’d already walked and the mom was yelling at her, “What’s your choice? Do you want to be a bad, little rotten child or do you want to be a good girl?” Through her tears, the girl said, “Um, I think I should choose to be a good girl.” And they kept walking away from me and I kept walking away from them. And then I said a prayer for the girl and for the mom. And I decided that each day this year I would say a prayer for both of them, for the little girl to find the goodness in her mother and for the mother to find forgiveness in herself, and for both of them to discover love. If I can do this, then I feel less powerless, less unable to do something. And if they can discover love, what more is there really to find.

    And I need to interject two things about today’s post. First of all, I am re-reading To Kill A Mockingbird at this moment. I just finished Mockingbird: A portrait of Harper Lee. And I have In Cold Blood on hold at the library again. The biography of Harper Lee is stunning and I am re-reading with pleasure the beauty of her writing. And who doesn’t fear writing a bestseller and then having people expect you to produce more writing.

    Secondly, I want to know where bikini waxing falls into the beauty category–if in fact, Susan, you’ve had a bikini wax, if Kimberly has done it for you, and Kimberly, ouch, it just sounds like too much pain, too close to important areas. But where in the spectrum of hair dyeing does bikini waxing and beauty fit into the spectrum.

    Finally, I have not read the History of Love but I did last month listen to it as a book on CD because I had some long driving. I must say, Nicole, it was one of the best books on tape I’ve ever heard. The voices were amazing and engaging and I just really wanted to crawl into my cd player! So now I can’t wait to re-read it on my own with those voices running through my head. Rarely can I concentrate on books on tape but this just drew me in and in and in.

    Blessings and happy New year.

  • maria
    January 4, 2008

    Hi, Susan,

    This was a great post… the New Year always lends itself to thinking things over, I guess.

    Please count me in for the 29th; I don’t have much traffic, but I’d still love to help get the word out!

  • Jennifer Talty
    January 4, 2008

    I plan on participating on January 29th. Thanks!

    Jennifer Talty

  • Kimberly
    January 4, 2008

    HA!

    Personally speaking, I am anti-wax. (Just in case the film doesn’t get up to the PNW for you to see, Sarah!) 🙂 I feel, like so many other beauty ‘treatments’, that waxing is a woman-on-woman crime. I made the film after my own disastrous experience and I wanted to know WHY (Why, God? Why?) do we do this to each other??? Especially when it’s an actual medical risk for so many…

    I will confess I do feel like a total hypocrite, at times, as I do color my hair a bright, shiny scarlet and I wear make-up and paint my nails and shave my legs and all kinds of other superficially ‘girly’ things – so how could I possibly point a finger at an industry I so obviously support?

    It’s something that’s been preying on my mind for a while.

    Speaking for myself, I don’t think that the rituals we go through to feel feminine (whether media-inspired or not) are necessarily wrong. Self-adornment has been going on since the dawn of humanity; for both males and females. I do think, however, that the media’s pressure to convince us that we NEED a bikini wax or a dye job in order to be a socially acceptable female is repugnant. Even worse: the fact that I allowed myself to be convinced by my girlfriends to get a bikini wax in the dead of a New York winter when I wasn’t having sex, therefore making it absolutely unnecessary by either a fashion or function dictate, is asinine; especially when you find out what my own body’s reaction was to my stupidity (and for that, you’ll have to see the film!) 🙂

    An environmental side note: my guess is, waxing is probably better for the environment than hair dye. All waxing materials are biodegradable (wax, sugar, wood, muslin) whereas the red dye #5 that tinges my hair is probably causing the fish in the Gowanus canal to sprout third eyes.

  • Betsy
    January 4, 2008

    Oh man, I’m so not ready to go gray yet – I tried just going back to my natural mousy brown and I felt like dullsville. I admire you though, Susan, because I couldn’t agree more about aging gracefully. I’m as vain as the next guy, but I’m just not super into the idea of cutting up my face, and I just so want to live in a world where all of the women above are considered beautiful. Anyhoo, I think I just might be able to get with you on the water bottle thing – I don’t go through massive quantities of them, but I can just as well get me a single refillable bottle, and I can also avoid getting paper cups when I order tea as well.
    Right on, everyone.

  • Sarah Bain
    January 4, 2008

    Oh, see, I too wear make up, get highlights (ever occasionally), etc. Terry often accuses me of getting more dressed up for my girlfriends then when we go out which is true. But I do it sometimes because it is fun and hey, I did dye my hair red once and it was fun! I will look for the movie 🙂 and I do want to get a tatoo. I’ve been thinking about that for a while.

  • lance_reynald
    January 4, 2008

    Sarah.
    I like your response. I think your thoughts on mother and daughter are the way to go. I think it’s really the root of why we are “here”, as they say…

    that was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in a while… at this moment I’m pretty proud to share a little corner of cyberspace with you.

    that just needed to be said.

    xo.

  • lance_reynald
    January 4, 2008

    you know I’m in…just remind me somewhere along the way.
    xo.

  • Bella Stander
    January 4, 2008

    I’m there for Patry on 1/29.

    For your hair there’s always henna, which you can do yourself cheaply, if messily, at home.

    Cheers,
    Bella Stander

  • jodyreale
    January 4, 2008

    I just love your posts, Sarah Bain. They remind me to keep things simple, and that when I’m confused about what to do in any situation, loving myself a little more is the way to go.
    Thanks,
    Jody

  • SusanHenderson
    January 4, 2008

    You go with the henna, Bella. And thank you for being there for Patry!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 4, 2008

    Well, I’m taking all this year by year. Let’s see how graceful I am next year.

    (Man, my phone will NOT stop ringing!)

  • SusanHenderson
    January 4, 2008

    Welcome, Jennifer! And thank you!

  • Gail
    January 4, 2008

    I was just visiting my 80 year old motherinlaw (or belle mere, as the French say) and she has yet to go grey. Which is why, I think, my husband seems to find me more appealing when I color my hair. I am going lighter and lighter so I can make that transition to grey comfortably when the time comes. That said, my sister, who is 10 years younger than me, is going grey and I think she looks great. This will be my hardest vanity to give up!

    On a positive note, I have never bought water in bottles. I am too cheap to pay for water when I have good stuff coming out of my tap for free!

    Sadly, there is quite an emphasis on skin-deep beauty in my family — a plastic surgeon, an actress/model, artists. Fortunately, I don’t think much about it, and am not big on make up/looking in the mirror, etc. Still, you got me on the hair…

  • Carolyn_Burns_Bass
    January 4, 2008

    As usual, Susan, today’s piece smacked me right upside my graying head. Sometimes I think you’re my younger, much cooler, secret sister.

    Like I mentioned Monday, I’m turning 50 this year. I prefer to say, “doing 50” because I want to live it up this year. My fraternal grandmother died of a drop-dead heart attack at age 50. I favor her in physical attributes and because of that she’s always been a spectre in my life.

    By living it up, I don’t mean abusing my body with poor choices and risky behavior. I mean living healthy so that I don’t drop dead one morning while putting on my stockings. Living well so that I can be around to know my grandchildren (I never knew my father’s mother). Living green so that I can leave the earth in better shape than it was when I arrived. Living with confidence so that I can recognize and appreciate those who achieve their dreams.

    Like Patry. I can hardly wait for the blog-a-thon to begin.

  • Judy Merrill Larsen
    January 5, 2008

    Count me in for the 29th!

  • Judy Merrill Larsen
    January 5, 2008

    Count me in!

  • judylarsen
    January 5, 2008

    count me in for the 29th!

  • Aurelio
    January 5, 2008

    Welcome to 50 – I just got here. I’ll get it all set up for you and we can celebrate when you get here!

  • billie
    January 5, 2008

    I read about Patry someplace else and am planning to participate on the 29th – both at mystic-lit and camera-obscura.

    I am getting lots of silvery streaks – they are very shiny and somehow they are making me feel glittery rather than old. 🙂

    billie

  • Ric
    January 6, 2008

    Late to the party – as usual.
    Count me in on anything to assist dear Patry. Her blog entries reinforce my belief in humanity and her unique ability to find something wonderful amid the chaos of her current situation makes my heart sing.

    At my age, just having hair sets me apart from my contemporaries.

  • robinslick
    January 6, 2008

    This was such a wonderful weekly wrap, Sue. You are a goddess.

    I just wish I had your morals. Erm…at least in theory…

    I’m thrilled to be part of Bloggers for Patry on January 29 and have a few really cool ideas which I’ll link here that day.

  • rdl
    January 6, 2008

    Please count me in. I am an old friend of Patry’s and i think it is amazing and wonderful what you all are doing!!

  • Terry Bain
    January 7, 2008

    Well I will, yes of course… assuming somebody reminds me. I’m a terrible rememberer. Also, I suck at putting things on the calendar. And my spelling is attrocious. Se there? Atrosious. Atrocious. Whew.

  • terrybain
    January 7, 2008

    Oh good grief. I just posted anonymously. Someone should take away my license to operate a keyboard.

  • James Spring
    January 7, 2008

    I’m late. But I’m in on the Patry gig. Please remind us all…

    I have no gray hair. Last week, though, I grew a biker-style goatee while in Santa Fe. And every third whisker was gray..

    Guess who no longer has a goatee.

    All the best to Patry…

    – James

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    Ha! That is funny!

    And thank you for being with me on Patry’s day.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    Aw, I like that photo, t.

    Thanks for saying yes to Patry-Day. I’ll remind you.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    Thanks so much for saying yes. And the wonderful thing is really what we can all accomplish together!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    I can’t wait to see your cool ideas. Still laughing about the Seran Wrap!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    Ha! I like that!

    Also, thank you.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    Thank you, Billie!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    I’m counting you in x 3! Thank you, Judy!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    The majority of my friends are in their 50’s and up (I’ve always liked that roll of little sister!), and I think that’s why I’m not so scared of numbers. My friends are a lively and creative bunch, enjoying life.

    Thanks for being in on Patry-Day!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    I’m as vain and ungraceful as the next one. I’m just trying to, more and more, try to line up my actions with my beliefs. It’s easier to say one thing and do another, that’s for sure!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    Hmmm, I see the potential for a book there….

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    Thank you, Jennifer!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    I’m much more impressed by big hearts than big traffic. Thanks for being a part of this, Maria!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    Sarah, wow. And would you please enter the contest?

    After I read History of Love, I ran out and got the CD of it and listened to it again. Amazing book. Same with Harper Lee’s. Every time I read it, I’m surprised all over again. My treat to myself after all the tough edits was buying books on tape so I could have books but give my eyes a rest. You should get Beowulf on CD, too, the Seamus Heaney version. Wow.

    xo

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    That’s really lovely. The joy of self-adornment. There’s always a balance. It’s funny, I have no problem with the fact that I dyed my hair red through most of college – that was all joy and experimentation. My issue comes when the changes are driven by self-hatred and trying to reach an impossible, unnatural standard.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    I was thinking the same thing. xo

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    Lisa, thank you!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    Thank you, Kat!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 8, 2008

    You have amazing hair, MAS.

    Great story about the pink party!

  • Laurawllner
    January 9, 2008

    Count me in!

    Laura Wellner

  • SusanHenderson
    January 10, 2008

    Thank you, Laura!

  • Stephie Smith
    January 10, 2008

    Please count me in! I can’t wait to get the book after reading Patry’s blog. Once I got started, I couldn’t stop reading. I’m sure I’ll feel the same about her book. This is a really wonderful thing you are doing for her and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help.

  • Kristie Cutter
    January 10, 2008

    I’m in!

  • Susan Wiggs
    January 10, 2008

    Well, this is a no-brainer. Of course I’ll post for Patry.

  • Caroline Leavitt
    January 10, 2008

    I definitely will blog about this on my blog and on redroom.com. What a wonderful idea! Caroline Leavitt

  • JanetReid
    January 10, 2008

    I”m in!
    jetreidliterary.blogspot.com

  • GinaBlack
    January 10, 2008

    I’d be delighted to help! http://www.theginachannel.com

  • D. Robert Pease
    January 10, 2008

    Count my little blog in.

  • Edie Ramer
    January 10, 2008

    I’m in. I’ll ask my library to order the book too.

  • Stephen Parrish
    January 11, 2008

    I’ll be there on the 29th. (Janet Reid sent me.)

    Thanks for the effort.

  • Charles Kelly
    January 11, 2008

    I’ll also blog for Patry’s book on the 29th, referred by Janet Reid.

  • Josephine Damian
    January 11, 2008

    Count me in! And I’ll spread the word on myspace that day as well. Patry was one of the first crime writers to “friend” me when I started there.

    htyp://joseohinedamian.blogspot.com

  • Julie
    January 11, 2008

    Count me in..

    juliekorzenko.blogspot.com

  • jocelyn
    January 11, 2008

    BookFinds.com will be posting about Patry and Liar’s Diary on the 29th.

  • Claudia Cunningham
    January 11, 2008

    Such a wonderful idea. Please count me in, too!

  • Pamela
    January 11, 2008

    Count me in! After reading Patry’s blog, how could you not support her. She’s wonderful…

    http://anovelwoman.blogspot.com/

  • clea Simon
    January 11, 2008

    Hey – I lifted your jpg of “Liars Diary” for my posting of Karen’s announcement – I link to LitPark (as well as to Karen’s site, Backspace, and – of course – Simply Wait). Just let me know if this isn’t copacetic, ok?
    – Clea
    (http://cleasimon.blogspot.com)

  • Susan Adrian
    January 11, 2008

    I’ll participate! I’m on with writers helping writers AND cancer survivors (my mom is one). You bet!

  • N. L. Valler aka Emo Mom
    January 11, 2008

    Count me in.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Yeah, Patry’s a compulsive read, isn’t she? Thank you, Stephie!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Kristie, hi! And thank you!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Thank you so much, Susan!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    I’m kind of overwhelmed by all the generosity. Thank you, Caroline!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Janet, great to see you here, and thank you for your help!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Thank you, Gina!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Thank you, Robert!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Thank you x 2!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Thank you, Stephen, and high-fives back to Janet for sending you!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Thank you, wow, I’m overwhelmed by all of you!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Thank you, Josephine! What a great blog you have – let me fix the link:

    http://josephinedamian.blogspot.com/

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Thank you, Julie! Love that book cover!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Thank you, Jocelyn! (If you click the Candice Night link, you’ll see my friend Candy loves that Philippa Gregory book, too.)

  • Heidi (Hick Chic)
    January 11, 2008

    Could you please add me to the list? I believe in supporting writers. I hope she can concentrate on healing while the rest of us get her book out there to the world. Thanks!
    Heidi

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Thank you, Pamela! I agree, she is wonderful!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Thank you, Clea! Borrow freely!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Thank you, Susan, and hi to your mom!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Hey, Emo Mom! Thank you!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 11, 2008

    Heidi, thank you!

  • Anne-Marie
    January 11, 2008

    I’d like to support Patry too. Count me in.

  • Bill Cameron
    January 12, 2008

    I’m in. This book is marvelous, and Patry is even more marvelous.

  • Tia Nevitt
    January 12, 2008

    I will participate over at Fantasy Debut.

  • L.C. McCabe
    January 14, 2008

    I don’t know Patry, but I know Jordan Rosenfeld. So that makes me two degrees of separation from Patry.

    Cancer is such an insidious disease and it has touched far too many of my friends and loved ones.

    I shall add my blog to the list, even though it is quite modest in readership.

  • Natasha Fondren
    January 14, 2008

    I loved that book! Sure, I’ll participate on the 29th!

    And I’ll keep her in mind every day, too.

  • davidhabbin
    January 14, 2008

    Sue,
    I will be happy to post this on my blog on MySpace.

    Best,
    David

  • charlesshaughnessy
    January 14, 2008

    Sue, I will also be happy to post this blog on my MySpace blog page. Thanks for telling us about this. Best wishes, Charlie

  • RAC
    January 14, 2008

    I would like to participate, too!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 15, 2008

    Thank you, Anne-Marie!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 15, 2008

    Bill, so happy to have you on board!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 15, 2008

    Tia, thank you so much!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 15, 2008

    Any friend of Jordan is a friend of mine.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 15, 2008

    Thank you, Natasha!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 15, 2008

    That is so generous of you! Thank you, David.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 15, 2008

    Thank you, and yes, absolutely! I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.

  • Claudia Smith
    January 15, 2008

    Sure

  • SusanHenderson
    January 15, 2008

    Richard, thank you! Wow to all of you here. And thank you from Patry.

  • Lisa_Kenney
    January 16, 2008

    I apologize — I originally created an account with the incorrect URL. I’m at http://eudaemoniaforall.blogspot.com/ and you do have me listed and I will be there for Patry! Thanks so much for all of your hard work!

  • Jean
    January 16, 2008

    Such a good feeling reading this – everything Patry says on her blog today about the online writer’s community is true, and wonderful! Do you know when The Liar’s Diary is due out in paperback here in UK? I’d love to help spread the word.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 16, 2008

    Thanks so much, Claudia! (Will you be in town for AWP?)

  • SusanHenderson
    January 16, 2008

    I’ll get that fixed – thanks!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 16, 2008

    I’ll find out for you, Jean. And thank you.

  • Jessie Sholl
    January 16, 2008

    I want to participate — I loved Patry’s book and her blog is great too. I’ll write about it on my website:

    http://www.jessie-sholl.com

  • Paris Parfait
    January 16, 2008

    What a wonderful idea to promote Patry’s book! Count me in. I’ll write about The Liar’s Diary debut in paperback on my blog on the 29th. Thank you! Tara Bradford at Paris Parfait.

  • Larramie
    January 16, 2008

    Please count me in. I presented LIAR’S DIARY on my blog, Seize a Daisy, this past spring and will be happy to link back to that while encouraging my visitors to purchase the paperback on January 29th. Patry and her writing are golden…always and forever.

  • TED
    January 17, 2008

    TO SUSAN AND EVERYONE HELPING PROMOTE MY WIFE’S BOOK
    ALL OF YOU ARE AWESOME!!!
    THANK YOU,
    TED

  • Therese Fowler
    January 17, 2008

    Yes, me too. I adore Patry and only wish I could do more to help…

    I blog at http://theresefowler.blogspot.com and will do a Patry-centered post on the 29th.

    Many thanks for getting this together.

  • Kelli Davis
    January 18, 2008

    I will definitely be participating on the 29th. I’ll put a note on my blog as well! Thanks!

  • P.A. Moed
    January 18, 2008

    Hi Susan. I’m new to the site, but I first got to know Patry a while back from Zoetrope. Count me in on the 29th! This is a wonderful idea.
    i

  • Melba
    January 18, 2008

    I will do ANYTHING to help Patry. I am her neighbor, but we didn’t even know we were neighbors until we found each other through blogging!
    I have several site and will post about Patry on my personal blog and on my collaborative blog.
    If there is anythingelse I can do PLEASE let me know.
    Melba McMullin

  • mbeyatte
    January 20, 2008

    count me in! as a cancer surviver and a writer, I am moved by the power of what you have initiated.

    http://www.marciebeyatte.com

  • davidhabbinfanpage
    January 20, 2008

    Hi Susan

    Will try very hard to pass on the message on that date- will have limited computer access- but will do my darndest.

    What a perfect opportunity to do a random act of kindess and know someone will benefit.

    Kudos to you..

    Bev from David Habbin Fan Page

  • SusanHenderson
    January 20, 2008

    Thank you so much, Jessie!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 20, 2008

    Salut, Tara! Et merci!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 20, 2008

    Wonderful! Thank you!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 20, 2008

    Ted, I’m glad you’re here. Thank you for taking such good care of Patry.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 20, 2008

    Thank you, Therese!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 20, 2008

    Much appreciated, Kelli!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 20, 2008

    Glad to see Zoetrope folks here… and thank you!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 20, 2008

    Glad to have you, Melba!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 20, 2008

    Ciao, Marcie! xo

  • SusanHenderson
    January 20, 2008

    Really lovely of you, Bev.

  • Leah
    January 20, 2008

    I’d love to participate!
    -leah
    http://www.creativeeveryday.com

  • Nicole
    January 20, 2008

    Oh, hell, yes, I’ll participate. Sign me up.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 20, 2008

    Great, Leah! Thank you!

  • SusanHenderson
    January 20, 2008

    Thank you so much, Nicole. Can you leave your web address so we can link you?

  • SusanHenderson
    January 23, 2008

    Sorry for the delay in answering the question about non-U.S. editions of the book. This is from the editor, and I’ll also post this in the specific thread where the question was asked:

    I now finally have pub dates for the foreign editions for Liar’s Diary. Sorry it took so long – we had to call all of the various the publishers to find out!

    Netherlands – De Boekerij, published March 17, 1007

    Germany – Aufbau-Verlag, published August 2007

    Poland – G+J, publishing May 2008

    Czech – Euromedia, August 2008

    We’re still not sure about Spain and France but when I hear back on those I’ll let you know.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 23, 2008

    Sorry for the delay in answering your question. This is from the editor, and I’m not seeing a UK edition, but these are all the foreign editions…..

    I now finally have pub dates for the foreign editions for Liar’s Diary. Sorry it took so long – we had to call all of the various the publishers to find out!

    Netherlands – De Boekerij, published March 17, 1007

    Germany – Aufbau-Verlag, published August 2007

    Poland – G+J, publishing May 2008

    Czech – Euromedia, August 2008

    We’re still not sure about Spain and France but when I hear back on those I’ll let you know.

  • Nicole
    January 24, 2008

    Sorry, Susan. I’m just now seeing your request for my web address from 3 days ago. It’s AWAAR.blogspot.com.
    🙂

  • Maria Dahvana Headley
    January 27, 2008

    Hi there! I’ve been very out of the loop for the same reasons you state you’ve been – though your out of the loop, Susan, just means that you aren’t doing maybe 2 of your normal 5 billion spectacular tasks….mine’s been a bit worse than that!

    I will of course do the Blog day – nothing like community – and particularly in this moment. I hope she sells tons of copies! (And that her health returns in force.) (I’ll do it both at my Year of Yes page, and at my http://www.myspace.com/mariadahvanaheadley page, fyi, since it’ll only link to one here.

    xo
    Maria

  • Myfanwy
    January 27, 2008

    I’m in!

  • Latteee
    January 27, 2008

    Hi Susan!

    I’ve reposted my friends blog on myspace and would love to do anything to help out on the 29th! As others have said, this is a fantastic way of spreading acts of kindness. Let’s just hope we get an epidemic.

    Thanks,
    Theresa

  • Martha Reed
    January 27, 2008

    Susan, count us in and please check our website tomorrow – Patry Francis and Liar’s Diary will be featured on The Working Stiffs blog (http://workingstiffs.blogspot.com) brought to you by the fine folks living near Pittsburgh PA.

    It’s a wonderful thing to see this level of support. Our prayers go out to Patry and a quick, full recovery.

  • SusanHenderson
    January 27, 2008

    Thank you so much for jumping in, Maria and Myf and Theresa and Martha (Stillers next year, huh?)!

    For anyone needing a little help with their Liar’s Diary blogs, here are some links that might make things easier:

    The press release from Patry’s publisher: http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=6761c11fb1&attid=0.1&disp=vah&view=att&th=117b328c04f94d63

    The embed code for the Circle of Seven video clip can be snagged from You Tube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD31Ip3y3Gk

    Patry’s website: http://www.patryfrancis.com/

    Her blog, Simply Wait: http://simplywait.blogspot.com/

    Amazon link for her book: http://www.amazon.com/Liars-Diary-Patry-Francis/dp/0452289157/ref=ed_oe_p (we’re recommending: “Buy one for yourself and one for a friend.”)

    And there’s a nice article about the blogging effort at Red Room http://www.redroom.com/articles/authors-who-blog-come-together-help-one-their-own

    See everyone for the fireworks on Tuesday, and thank you again for being so generous!

  • Karen DeGroot Carter
    January 28, 2008

    Susan, you’re the best for spearheading this project! I’m writing my post right now so it can go up first thing Tuesday; stopped by to pick up the link to your blog. I’m SO looking forward to tomorrow!! Patry deserves all this and more. K.

  • Dennis Mahagin
    January 28, 2008

    Wow, Susan.

    I should have been on this sooner.

    Yes, indeed.
    I’ll certainly blog for Patry Francis tomorrow. 🙂

    Best,

    DM

    Best,

    DM

  • Kim Stagliano
    January 28, 2008

    Hi – count me in – I’m blogging the book tomorrow. This is inspirational. I heard about this from Stephen Parris and Backspace.

    kimstagliano.blogspot.com

    Also a HuffPo blogger and writer.

  • Sky
    January 28, 2008

    Hi. Just wanted to let you know I am participating in the Jan 29th Liar’s Diary celebration and publicity campaign. My post is up!

  • Patricia Wood
    January 29, 2008

    My post is up also. I have her book jpg and a link to amazon.

  • Nancy Bond
    January 30, 2008

    I’m happy to join in and do my part — I wish Patry all the best.

  • Nathalie
    February 5, 2008

    Just so you’d know: after that post, I wrote yet another little story on the subject to ageing gracefully ( a per subject) and it just has been published on Six Sentences.

  • […] blogs haven’t yet attained that reach, but still want to help. (like me!) Susan Henderson is keeping the list(leave a comment there if you want to participate) on her website, LitPark. It’s growing by […]

  • […] am deep into my second round of book edits, and I’ve been very busy helping to get things ready for THE LIAR’S DIARY Blog Day (which is Tuesday, January 29th), so I’m just going to give you a quick tour for the weekly […]

  • […] a reminder that tomorrow is THE LIAR’S DIARY Blog Day, and more than 300 of you said, “Count me […]

  • […] her health, a group of more than 300 blogging compatriot’s (led by Laura Benedict and Litpark ) have declared today “The Liar’s Diary Blog […]

  • […] a reminder that tomorrow is THE LIAR’S DIARY Blog Day, and more than 300 of you said, “Count me […]

  • Weekly Wrap: Penn Station
    September 15, 2010

    […] into my second round of book edits, and I’ve been very busy helping to get things ready for THE LIAR’S DIARY Blog Day (which is Tuesday, January 29th), so I’m just going to give you a quick tour for the weekly […]

  • […] Patry if she would submit a story and she sent me this gorgeous flash: It). Prompted by posts on LitPark and Laura Benedict’s blog, today I am blogging for Patry Francis, whose excellent book The […]

Susan Henderson