Jacqueline Sheehan

Welcome to my winter newsletter!

It's a new year and time for resolutions.

In this newsletter you'll find information about the Prague writing retreat this summer, January workshop in Mass, Author's Salon at the Storyteller's cottage in Connecticut, my resolutions for the new year and some exciting news about LOST & FOUND!

 

It's the New Year!
Resolutions for 2019
At the start of ever year, I do a personal review to see what's working and what's not working. In therapy, I invited clients to do more of one and less of the other. Call them resolutions. Call it internal house cleaning. Be specific. Have fun and add a completely new activity. Aside from finishing the novel that I am so close to completing, here are the main resolutions.

 

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Welcome to my fall newsletter!

What have I been up to, aside from writing my way to the end of my next novel? Harvesting grapes at Glendaleridge Vineyard, for one thing. I do some of my best thinking when I'm not staring at the computer screen. It's good for us to try totally new experiences and harvesting grapes was brand new to me.

 

Prague Retreat Summer 2019!

 

But the big news is that I'm joining Julie Maloney for the Writing Retreat in Prague next summer. We've worked together for ten years and it has been an exciting partnership. Why am I mentioning this now when the retreat doesn't happen until July 2019? Because everything that is offered through Women Reading Aloud sells out long before the event.

 

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Welcome to my summer newsletter.

 

Here's what we have for you in this issue:

I know how it is in summer; sometimes pictures are easier than words. So rest assured, there will be pictures of cats, vintage motorcycles, wine, and good friends.

 

Keeping Cool in Summer

 

First off, my cat Cooper offers his best advice for hot summer days. He is campaigning hard for a hammock, but until that can be arranged he suggests a languid, belly up posture on the couch. He is wise beyond his years.

 

My Next Book

There comes a time when on-line research will only take you so far. My next book includes a character who drives a 1934 Indian Scout motorcycle and I needed to see what it felt like to sit on one and learn from people who collect them. I was in luck because a vintage Indian Motorcycle rally was held in Springfield, Mass where these beautiful motorcycles were built.

 

Click here to read the rest of the Summer Newsletter!

Welcome to my spring newsletter

 

Here's what we have for you in this issue:

• The winner of the On Gratitude writing contest.
• Upcoming writing workshops and events.
• Jane Yolen's 365th book party.
• Book Clubs.
• Hosting Bloom Reads.
• A way you can help.

In the winter newsletter, I told you about the results of not complaining for one entire day, and yes that included even mentally complaining. I offered a contest with the challenge of trying this for one day and writing about it. Submissions came from Australia, Guatemala, and the United States. They were sincere, funny, and delightful. But the one that the judges chose was an essay about how hard it can be to find gratitude and stop complaining. And even suggested that M&M's might be an honorable award.

 

Click to read the spring newsletter and Gabriel's essay on gratitude!

Welcome to my winter newsletter

Winter has been extreme here in the Northeast. Cooper the cat has been hugging the radiator but it is good writing weather.

Here’s what we have for you in this issue:

Day of gratitude contest
Save the date for Writing and Yoga in Scotland 2018.
Upcoming writing workshops.
And  Read More 

Every time I attend a book club or read at a bookstore I am asked “Why do you include dogs in all of your books?” In fact, I didn’t include animals in my novels until my second book, 'Lost & Found' when a black Labrador with a heroic personality walked onto the stage of  Read More 

It seems everyone is on Pinterest. At an auction, I recently purchased two brass lamps ($25) circa 1970’s with the idea of repurposing them. I went to Pinterest for ideas. Spray paint them, said several enthusiastic Pinterest ladies. I followed their instructions to the letter: sand the daylights out of the lamp base with 220 sandpaper,  Read More 

When writing novels, I create characters who are fictional. It’s true that they might exhibit mannerisms that I’ve lifted from the cashier at Cumberland Farms, or a school mate from long ago. But they are imaginary people, just like Winne the Pooh or Jack Reacher.

Even imaginary characters must exist in a  Read More 

I wanted soccer before soccer wanted me. It is hard to imagine when girls were barred from a sport that is now so integral to every town’s recreation department. I sound like the last dinosaur roaming the earth when I tell this tale, but it is true.

When I was in sixth grade  Read More 

I've been thinking about mothers lately. My friend and yoga teacher, Charles MacInerney guest blogs with his essay about a fairy god-mother in England who offered him the gift of listening.

In Praise of Fairy Godmothers
by Charles F. MacInerney

I was fortunate growing up to have had two mothers - my real mother and my Fairy Godmother.

When I was 6 years old we moved to England and spent 10 years living in Bladon, a small village in Oxfordshire. Anne Sherman was my first and best friend. Our houses faced each other across a pasture  Read More