A Mother's Day Gift

By Catherine Giordano

I got my Mother's Day gift today

I received my 10 copies of Not Your Mother's Book: On Being a Mom the publisher sends to contributors.  I dropped everything in a rush to see my story in print  Then I read a few other stories at random.  I was so impressed.  What an honor to be included in this book with these other great authors. 

Every mother or mother-to-be or everyone who has--or who has ever had--a mother will enjoy these stories.  

I will thank my son for this gift.  Without him, I wouldn't have had a story to tell.  And I would not have had the wonderful experience of being a mother.  His mother.

Use  the link in the text above to go to amazon.com to "look inside" or to order a copy. 

P.S. Don't let the cover fool you into thinking that these stories are about mother-child conflict. The stories cover the joys as well as the trials of motherhood. Some of the stories are sweet, but never sappy. Some of the stories touch on the difficulties of motherhood, but there are no sad or tragic stories.  All the stories are fun reads for contemporary times. 

I Took First Prize

By Catherine Giordano

Forgive me. I have to show off. I took first place in The Maitland Poetry contest on Friday. There were three judges and the poems were judged without the poet's name attached to insure it was a fair contest.

It was only a small contest—only 20 poems were entered. But some of the best poets from the Central Florida area were in contest. To top it off—there was a cash prize. So now I can say I have actually earned money from my poetry.  (Not counting the money I have earned from the sale of my poetry books.) 

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I want everyone to know about my success.

Please click the amazon shopping cart (above left) to buy from amazon.com,

maybe even one of my books.

This poem, “Safe Harbor,” has a long history. It became about two years ago as a prose piece written to a prompt a writing workshop. It felt poetical so I transformed it into a poem.  Every few months, I’d go back to it and revise it.  It’s been revised about four or five times.

I almost didn’t enter the contest.  A friend reminded me about the contest the day before the deadline.  On the final day, I tweaked the poem again, and I submitted it via the internet.

The theme was “Explore Your World.” I thought this poem about sleeping on a sailboat—“Anchor your sailboat in the crook of a cove” it begins. But like many poems, it veers off in an unintended direction. It turns into a poem about the place of the earth in the universe and it’s about the earth being our mother. It ends “Sleep in the womb of the world.”

The poem may have won the contest, but the poem continues to be a work in progress.  I thought of another revision last night.  

I've gotten great reviews for my first book of poetry, The Poetry Connection.  Check them out at amazon.com

 

Just in Time for Mother's Day

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The book is finally out!  Not Your Mother's Book: On Being a Mom is available in print.  It includes my creative non-fiction story "The Accidental Kidnapper."  The story takes a look at how it feels to be adopted as an "older child."  My son was 5 years old when I adopted him.  (I think the story title gives it away a bit.)

It is available on amazon.com.  (It may say "available for pre-order," but that is just a lag in the system.  The publisher tells me that amazon has copies right now.)

I should be getting my own hard copies in a few days now.  I can't wait to hold it in my hands and see my story in print.  also, I'm looking forward to reading the other amazing stories by the other moms. 

The book is also available as an ebook on Smash Words and as a Nookbook on Barnes and Noble. 

\Mother's Day is coming up.  This book makes a great gift.
Flowers wilt and die. Candy gets eaten (and goes straight to the hips). A book is forever.

Please use my links on this page to buy it. And that will be your Mother's Day gift to me.

My Latest Publishing Credit

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by Catherine Giordano

The official release date for a new  creative non-fiction anthology, Not Your Mother's Book: On Being a Mom, is April 8, 2014. It includes my story, "The Accidental Kidnapper."

It is a story about my son John and his adoption from Guatemala at the age of five. It provides insight into how a it feels to be adopted--a little like being kidnapped.

I hope you will buy the book when it becomes available.  It will be in bookstores and on amazon.com.  

When you buy it, be sure to use the link on my website. Just click on the amazon.com shopping cart logo on the top left side of the page and then shop as you normally would. (P.S.: you can use that link whenever you buy from amazon.com.  I earn a small commission and it doesn't cost you anything extra.)

A Story of Love

I'll be doing a presentation at the Maitland Public Library on Sunday, February 2, 2014 at 3:00 pm titled “A Story of Love,” The event is free.  Free refreshments will be provided.

The presentation begins with a dramatic retelling of a Native American folk tale.  The storytelling is followed by a discussion about what the story can teach us about relationships with our loved ones.  The presentation is suitable for all ages.

The Maitland Public Library is located at 501 South Maitland Avenue, Maitland Florida 32751.  Reservations are suggested, but not necessary. The phone number is 407-647-7700.

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Fun with Words: The Daily Vocabula

I've been enjoying The Daily Vocabula, a free email newsletter to help build vocabulary and "learn you how" not to misuse words.  (Just a little joke.)

 

The publishers describe it thusly: "The Daily Vocabula" is a free Monday-through-Friday publication of Vocabula Communications Company. Unlike the many word-a-day emails, The Daily Vocabula offers sections on disagreeable English, elegant English, concise writing, scarcely used words, as well as other topics."

 

Sign up to receive The Daily Vocabula by sending your email address to TheDailyVocabula@vocabula.com.

 

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Top Five Reasons Why I Blog

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1.    I have some ideas and opinions, I would talk everyone’s head off. With a blog, people can opt in if they want to hear it. (But I hope you opt in by following.) 

2.    Blogging helps me improve my writing skills. 

3.    It makes me think more deeply about things.  When I blog about TV shows, I have to think the issues through and that helps me to appreciate the show more. See Premium Cable Reviews 

4.     I learn a lot about a lot of different topics.  When I did the news Print Poetry 2012 project, I had to read the newspaper every day thoroughly and sometimes I did further research on a story because I got interested in the topic. 

5.    I can earn money from this if you support my advertisers  If you are planning to buy anything from amazon.com use my link and I get a small commission, even if it is a third party purchase.  It doesn’t cost you anything extra. Here’s a link you can use:  Click Here for Amazon.com.  You can also click on the shopping cart to the right or on any link embedded in the text. 

The holidays are coming.  If you plan to buy gifts fromamazon.com, please use my link. Anything you buy on your shopping trip after clicking my link, is credited to me as long as you don't leave the amazon site before placing your order. Thanks so much.