A Little Bird Told Me and Other News
A newsletter that contains actual news!
Happy February 1! We made it through January. Congratulations! These days, it’s important to celebrate the little things.
Tomorrow, you’ll receive a creative essay from me, “Watching the Sun Rise and Other Forms of Resistance,” but I wanted to share a few things with you tonight that are more of the newsy sort.
First of all, I wanted to take a moment and welcome my new subscribers. I credit this little guy for a surge of new subscribers. It means so much to me that you’ve signed on to share in this journey with me. Thank you and welcome!
I took this photo while sitting at my desk, just as I’m doing now, on morning in early January. I glanced out my window and saw four Eastern Bluebirds waiting their turn to enter a mealworm feeder I have hanging off my front rail. I grabbed my camera and shot this through my office window.
It was one of those magical moments when the bird stayed still, the lightening was just right, and, for once in my life, I chose the right camera settings. I couldn’t be happier with the photo and with the fact that it has brought joy to so many people.
I posted this photo to Substack Notes on January 17, and it’s become my first note with over 1,000 hearts. I know that doesn’t qualify as viral in the world of social media, but it’s still thrilling to me, especially because it has meant that people discovered Annette’s Wanderings and have subscribed.
If you haven’t yet subscribed, I hope you will.
Join me for a virtual memoir class!
Want to try your hand at writing memoir? Diversity Richmond, an LGBTQ+ organization here in Richmond, VA, is sponsoring a virtual four-session memoir class that I’ll be teaching starting February 4. It’ll run from 7-9 pm EST on the first Tuesdays of every month. I would love for you to join me. The workshop is free, but, if you decide to attend, I encourage you to donate to this fabulous organization.
Here’s the link to register: Writing Meaning Into Memories
An Update on Living Into the Truth
As some of you know, I published a memoir: Living Into the Truth: A Daughter’s Journey of Discovery on November 1, 2024. I was thrilled with how my book launch events went and have been happy with other opportunities I’ve had to speak about my book, give readings, and interact with those who have read it.
I was especially pleased to participate in an event sponsored by GLSEN RVA, the local chapter of a national network more than 1.5 million strong, with students, families, educators, and education advocates working to create safe schools.
As part of this event, Fountain Bookstore donated several boxes of books to the Richmond Public Schools Lit Limo, a traveling library that visits neighborhoods all over Richmond to give children a chance to get free books. Each child selects the book they want and then gets to take it home with them free. After they’ve selected a book, they leave the bus by way of a slide out the back door! What a great service!
This event was my first time seeing my book in a bookstore and my first bookstore reading, so that was also exciting.
How To Get Your Copy
If you haven’t had a chance to purchase Living Into the Truth yet, I invite you to visit my website: wordswomenpress.com to find out more. It’s available wherever books are sold in paperback and on Amazon as a Kindle eBook. I appreciate your support!
If You’ve Already Read Living Into the Truth
Thank you! Now I have a request. It matters a lot for books to receive reviews. They don’t all have to be five-star. It just matters that people are reading and talking about a book. Regardless of how you feel about Amazon, there are two places where reviews make a difference and that’s on Amazon and Goodreads. PLEASE CONSIDER PUBLISHING AN HONEST REVIEW!!! It’ll only take a few minutes, and I will be eternally grateful!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
That’s all for now. I hope you are doing well and that you find some joy in the month of February. Remember to watch the birds and look for a regular post in your Inbox tomorrow!
Yours in hope,
Annette
Congratulations!!!