Like most authors/writers, I have this love/hate relationship with Amazon. These days, I’m perilously close to the highly annoyed side not so much for me, but for several of my author/writer friends.
They’re losing book reviews–or they’re worried about losing book reviews. You can read more at my post over at The Muffin, “Keeping Book Reviews on Amazon.” And if you have any experience and/or suggestions, I hope you’ll join in on the conversation.
I like to write book reviews. But I don’t write a review for the mega-selling author; Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, BIG MAGIC, is wonderful, but she doesn’t need my review. My newly-published friends of a more modest selling background, on the other hand, appreciate every single review. So to lose a review is a big deal to them.
How can we make sure a friend keeps a review? Because I don’t want to boycott Amazon. I need a new phone case.
Finding my way back to writing–or more specifically, the joy I once found in creative expression–has been a challenge. But sometimes, creativity finds me and drags me along on new adventures.
That was the case this week when Juniorette Hall found a Tiny Lantern Workshop and paid for my ticket and…well, she knows I’m a sucker for tiny stuff so off I went. Because also, and most importantly, she offered to drive into the Big City.
I just now realized that you’re probably wondering what the heck is a Tiny Lantern Workshop, but before I can explain that you need to know about the Lantern Parade. Read all about it here or just watch the video of the parade from last year:
So yeah, it’s pretty crazy with all the HUGE lanterns lighting up the Atlanta Beltline.
This year, the Tiny Doors folks (you remember my Tiny Doors adventure, right?) decided to join forces with this artsy fun by inviting people to make tiny lanterns for the parade. Thus, the Tiny Lantern Workshop.
That’s Rosie, the Tiny Doors…um…mascot? Anyway, those lanterns on the tiny worktable (and the floor) are Juniorette’s. She was all about a Halloween theme (pumpkin, bat, and ghost). Whereas my theme was mostly My Favorite Things. I made a red and black football lantern (cleverly including UGA and the Falcons) and a beach lantern with waves and sand on it, both quite lovely. But then I found some words on a page in my purse.
They’re not my words. I had A Psalm for the Dying by Edward Hayes with me (we had read it at Mister Man’s graveside service just this past weekend) and I took some of the lines and sort of cut and pasted them into this:
after I am home in the bosom of God
I will still be present
Whenever you are in need, call me
for my roots and yours are forever intertwined
So, creativity caught up with me and it was good.
Come September, I might even walk in the Lantern Parade. But only if Juniorette Hall’s driving.
Cathy C. Hall Writes 