Greetings, readers. Happy news: my second book is blooming like a crocus in spring. Yup, I’m publishing another book. No, it’s not a memoir like Undertow, and it won’t weigh five pounds like Undertow, either. This lighter-weight book baby is a collection of my flash fiction, poetry, and musings about writing from years past and not-so-far past. Some of it has been published elsewhere; a few bits are even prize-winning (brag, brag, brag).
So, if you’re interested in my work besides these blogs and heavy-weight Undertow, this happy news is for you.
Why another book now?
Like many of you during this pandemic, I’ve been experiencing great sadness for many months for many reasons. There are joys, too, don’t get me wrong, and I’m grateful for the health and wellbeing of my family, friends, and all the people in the world surviving this catastrophic world-wide event—if you’ve not heard, COVID-19 so far has killed about 600,000 people in the U.S. and many more people around the planet.
But honestly, no matter how well some of us may be doing now, every day we live with the knowledge that many have died, or suffered terribly, and still are threatened with harm from COVID-19 and suffer from a myriad of consequences. This takes a terrible toll on all of us. At least, that’s how I see it.
How do we go on in the face of this pervasive existential pain? I’ve heard it said (this is not a news flash) that we just need to live with the awareness that life is short, so do something meaningful and do it with love.
Life is short, do something of value
Okay, so I ask what shall I do? Maybe this is just me, but I start by examining what I have been doing and go from there. One thing: for the last year (has it been that long already?) to keep me connected to my writer-self and to similar souls, on a weekly basis I had (and still have) separate phone calls or Zoom sessions with four writerly friends in the U.S. and regular emails with one writerly friend in The Netherlands who is writing historical fiction, an intriguing novel based on the life of one of her ancestors.
So, for instance, on Wednesday at 11:00 am, I call S. On Thursday at 4:00 pm, I call R. And on Friday and Sunday are scheduled two more calls with two other writerly friends. We listen to each other, we lean on each other, we open our hearts with love. This happens via email, too, with my writer friend across the sea.
Some days we take each other’s hand and find a path through the heavy haze that blankets us, a covering made of the pandemic nightmare plus the deeply troubling state of affairs in our country and around the world (you know what I’m talking about). On other days, the sun peeks out, the haze dissipates, and our outlook is better. During this time, I discovered, in a fresh and focused way, that any back and forth of soul-sharing with people you trust brings in more light.
The emergence of this new book
And light is what we need. It’s light that makes all flowers grow. Light helped me get through some pretty dim days when I did not have the heart to write a thing. Not a journal entry. Not an email. Not even the grocery list. But, as the song goes, I got by with a little help from my friends, and from my utterly dear and kind and smart husband, Hoyt. And I got by thanks to brilliant writers’ books I read, the most recent authored by Edna O’Brien, an Irish novelist and short story writing genius.
Thanks to the light, this last February I managed to write a piece of flash fiction, which was published in The Florida Writer magazine. That milestone felt like this: despite gasping for oxygen, I planted a flag on Mt. Everest! BTW, that story will be included in my new book.
So, I’m telling you this as a lead up to some deeper thoughts—about our subconscious. I don’t know much about the mystery of what goes on while we dream during sleep, or daydream awake, or as we busy ourselves with tasks unrelated to any angst we might be feeling, but I feel pretty sure this new book idea is the result of my subconscious or unconsciousness at work. See, I really don’t know much about this; I’m not even sure which word to use!
Wherever the idea sprang from, however it emerged, I’m grateful it did. I’m ready to work hard again.
Who is publishing it?
Yours truly a.k.a. New Wings Press, LLC, and I’m using the same print-on-demand company for self-publishers: IngramSpark. And wonderfully, I get to work again with my extraordinarily talented NYC team that helped create Undertow—book designer, Duane Stapp, and editor, Alice Peck. They are already on board and busy, as are a few helpful beta (first) readers.
Coming sooner than the book – updated website
Before long, my website will get a snazzy facelift. Web designer Mary Ann de Stefano, owner of Mad About Words, returns to redo my website as we launch this second book. Don’t worry, Undertow will still be here, too.
F.A.Q. about this second book
Q. When is it coming out?
A. Target date is November 19, 2021 – just in time for holiday gift-giving. Might be sooner. Stay tuned.
Q. Will you reveal the title now?
A. No. Not sayin’ yet. I’ll announce it here in a “reveal party” blog post.
Q. Where will copies be available?
A. The paperback will be available online at the usual suspects/booksellers (i.e. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, and more) & independent booksellers, too. Indies can order it through their magic book-ordering channels. If you don’t know, the Book Depository ships free world-wide. For readers outside the U.S., this is ideal.
Q. Will it be available as an eBook?
A. Yes. An eBook version will be released sometime after the paperback comes out.
Stay tuned and pass the word
To receive updates on this project, subscribe to this blog (if you don’t already). Just fill out the box on my website that says “Subscribe to Blog Posts.”
One last thing – a special thanks to those of you who read Undertow and continue to support it by telling your friends about it. I send you a virtual hug. Undertow continues on its journey to readers around the world and messages from some readers continue to come in. The majority are nice. ♥
If you don’t yet have a copy of Undertow, it remains available in paperback and eBook at all the usual suspects/booksellers, independent bookstores, and eBook retailers.
Thanks for reading!
Your writer on the wing,
Charlene
Kathleen Brandt
It’s light that makes all flowers grow.
Great quote!
Looking forward to your new book, Charlene.
Marjorie Patton
Wonderful news. I am looking forward to reading it, so I hope that I do live long enough to do so. (just being 93, I, as the saying goes, don’t buy very green bananas ?)
Peggy Lantz
So very happy to read this, Charlene. I look forward to reading all of your Bits and Pieces, even the ones I’ve already read.
Leah Fear
Hooray! So excited to read it!
maggi hall
So proud of you and happy you were able to concentrate and accompany. Many couldn’t and that is a tragedy.
Keep up your positive attitude and your refreshing literary style.
Hugs. And when will we break bread together again??
maggi
Leslie Lynch
What a great positive to come out of the sadness of the pandemic!
Charlene L. Edge
Thanks to each of you who commented on this post. You’ve added to the excitement I feel about this project. What a privilege it is to publish, especially in times like these…
Linda Goddard
Dear Charlene,
I am so excited for you! And I’m so glad this writing and publishing project has brought you out of this past year’s sadness.
I want you to know how much I treasure your friendship, and not just as fellow writers, although this experience is so meaningful, but as a dear friend, an experience with people like you, I do not take for granted.
I can’t wait to have and read your new book!