Friends. It has to be friends. After writing a post about thankfulness
yesterday, I woke up this morning with the realization that I had left out
friends, and it is they who have earned so much of my gratitude in recent
weeks. I refer to physical beings rather than faces and names on social media,
although many of those contacts have become special as well.
So I begin anew.
One’s life fills with people in 80 years. Memory plays
their faces across the mind, sings the names of many; some sad songs, others
cacophonies of dislike, but most warm harmonies that soothe the spirit. I collected those melodies in much the same
area over most of my decades, and those are the refrains that make the heart
ache with loss for those who have passed, and those I might never see again.
I have traveled, made
acquaintances from whom I parted, but still treasure. A woman in Canada I
haven’t seen in years was among the first to buy Two Hearts in Time on release day.
When our family moved
from western Oklahoma to Northwest Arkansas nine years ago, I thought I’d find
no one here who could come close to the dear people left behind. When this one
of my unpublished three novels found a home at The Wild Rose Press, I mourned to my critique partners in the
Writers’ Guild of Arkansas: “How can I market a book here? I don’t know much of
anyone.”
Who among neighbors, or associates
in a couple of organizations would care a whit about a novel whose characters
harbor opinions far less conservative than they?
My Scrabble friends
mostly read sweet romances. Two Hearts in
Time isn’t sweet, isn’t strictly a romance nor a fast read. They knew these
things. Associates in the Gem & Mineral Society are mostly very religious.
Their expressed interest in when the book was due out drew my warnings, “It’ll
shock you.”
My critique circle had
read almost the whole thing, except the ending. Why would any one of them want a copy?
A couple of weeks before
the release, the Scrabble gals made our monthly get-together all about me. The
cake featured the beautiful cover Kim Mendoza created for Two Hearts in Time. Only one woman didn’t pre-order and pay for a
book that day.
I began to realize what true friends these new ones are.
Through tears, I called my husband and told him to come see the cake. He rates
among the least socially comfortable people I know, but arrived, mixed with the
women and left teary–eyed as well.
Little did I suspect
when planning a launch party, the rousing success that ensued. The number
wasn’t huge, but included those Scrabble ladies, critique partners (some of
whom no longer participate), Gem & Mineral Society readers of Inspirational
tomes, (including one member’s 90 year old mother). There were attendees from a
couple of pre-release appearances including a former missionary in my book’s
setting of Yucatán, and his wife, and yes, writer friends from Oklahoma drove
for hours to share my moment. A nursery owner in our critique circle provided
beautiful floral arrangements, another member decorated, yet another insisted
on providing punch. Two writer friends helped with the signing. Scrabble ladies
made cookies, handled sales and circulated among the guests.
Two women to whom I’ve
grown close in recent years realize the serious financial situation my husband
and I face. They insisted on fronting the money for my first order from The Wild Rose Press. Can you imagine my
surprise, and gratitude upon receiving their offer?
They have been repaid in
full, the second order covered as well. Books that remain unsold get their
opportunity the first week of November when we visit our son’s family in our
old home area. Folks out there are very conservative too, but someone of that
persuasion read the book and arranged a signing at the library in the town my
husband and I called home for 12 years. A woman I don’t follow regularly on
Facebook organized a signing in my growing-up town. The owner of the assisted
living home invited me to lunch the day of that signing. Old school chums
reside there and I can scarcely wait to hug them all.
How can one mention
friends and not relatives? Nieces and nephews sent flowers on the release day.
Another niece in Texas arranged a signing there. Two friends went along, my
grandson drove us down, right through the heart of Dallas–yikes!
Two local appearances to
talk about my book and my adventures among the Maya that inspired it, are set
for early spring. None of this means the book is a best seller, or rates higher
than most first published novels. What it means to me is closer to the heart
than money or fame.
Relationships we value
in many ways and for many reasons. Some honor friends at our side during the
difficult times of illness and loss, and those I’ve known over the years. Some
number among same long-time friends mentioned in this piece. Perhaps because of
my advanced years, or because of other things going on in my life at present,
this most recent outpouring of love touches me more than anything remembered
from the past.
I am so thankful for my
friends, and for Angela Hayes for allowing me this forum to express that
gratitude.
Blurb:
Rescued by tomb looter,
Miguel Zamora, Sonrisa Lyons struggles between her contempt for Miguel’s
thievery and her need for his help in returning to civilization.
Miguel,
haunted by the loss of his wife and son would like to abandon the troublesome
trouser-wearing woman from the future, but his cultured upbringing and
compassionate heart rule.
Forced
companionship on the trail through Yucatán’s steamy jungle blazes into mutual
passion, and in spite of herself, Sonrisa is drawn into Miguel’s true mission.
At journey’s end, she finds a possible way to return to her time. Will she try
to open the portal or choose life with Miguel?
About Raymona Anderson
Raymona Anderson is a retired journalist whose travels among the Maya ruins produced articles for magazines and newspapers. A week-long workshop in Maya Hieroglyphic Decipherment held at the University of Texas inspired TWO HEARTS IN TIME. She’s a wife of almost 63 years, mother of two grown sons, and grandmother to seven grands and greats. The youngest great–granddaughter helped out at the book launch, but has to wait a few years before she’s allowed to read the book.
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You are truly blessed with valuable relationships, which can be a harder to find than true love in the age of electronics.
ReplyDeleteTomb looters, time traveling, and jungle love---I need a little of that in my bedtime reading :)
Have a Happy Thanksgiving
I can't even begin to imagine the wonderful memories you have stored away from such awesome trips. Thankful for such endearing and wonderful friends. They certainly had to a well lived life.
ReplyDeleteThanks Angela for hosting me, and Debra for appreciating my post. The trip out to western Oklahoma was great. I actually sold several books at the assisted living center, which came as something as a surprise, and the response at the library in Laverne was overwhelming. Inadvertently, I answered a question one of the board had about a location the library occupied early in the '40s when I learned to read and trekked alone (the good old days) to the library to check out Winnie the Pooh. The Laverne Delphian Club has sponsored the library there all those decades. Their newest facility on Main Street is so nice.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post! How wonderful to have such great friends!
ReplyDeleteWow! What an amazing story, Raymona. Now I'm teary eyed....Thanks so much for sharing. All the best, too! :)
ReplyDelete