Well, Isn't This Nice?

It would seem that, at this particular stage of my life, I make blog entries once or twice per year!
If you don't remember me, I'm not surprised. NOT the way to win fame and fortune.   

For contributors to the Hot Apple Cider with Cinnamon anthology, due out in October, a bio was to be included. Room was provided for links to websites and/or blogs. I PROMISED that I would have my blog updated for when the book was released. So, although in the interim, babies have been born, people have died, political matters have moiled, both victories and horrors have occurred, finally, here I am, back again!






WHAT HAS KEPT ME SO BUSY THAT I HAVEN’T HAD THE COURTESY TO MAKE AN ENTRY OR TWO SINCE LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME?

WRITING & PUBLISHING Most of my writing is done for publication or in emails or, in occasional comments, on FB. I am not one of those “birds” who tweet or twitter, partly due to lack of time and interest, partly due to ignorance of the process. (Exception: When placing birdfeed and peanuts on the window frame and sill, I do occasionally attempt to mimic the calls of birds around me. Sometimes, jays, in particular, respond.)

Most Recent Newspaper Columns, Pembroke Daily Observer:

 Have continued with my newspaper columns as a member of the Pembroke Daily Observer Editorial Board. Please take a peek at them:
1) http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/2015/08/19/there-once-was-an-old-woman-who-wrote-it   A piece about poetry, with my illustration showing part of my varied poetic approaches.



As mentioned in that article, my friend Heather Campbell (author of five books, two of which I edited), my son, Daniel Elford, (whose writing skill first evidenced itself by publication in a national magazine when he was eight) and I read our prose and poetry in Janna’s Gallery Café. I read a mix of published pieces, unpublished competition winners and excerpts from two of my book ms. We quite enjoyed ourselves and the appreciative audience—sufficiently appreciative that there have been requests for a repeat event. One of Daniel’s pieces, concerning prejudice, brought loud spontaneous applause. Proud Mom!


 
2. http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/2015/04/06/where-in-your-world-is-the-risen-jesus-christ
Concerns the effect of the misuse/ignoring of Lent. Illustration of the empty tomb smothered in secular "Easter" gimmicks and treats.
           
3. http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/2015/06/01/the-mosquito-has-landed-and-landed-and-landed A discussion re. the Petawawa battle against the hardy mosquitos and some suggestions for reframing the situation. Mix of serious and fun piece. Enjoyed doing both the article and the illustration. Didn't check to see how the mayor felt about my fountain suggestion.




4. http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/2015/02/10/bagheera-the-cat-who-looked-into-our-souls A piece that told of living with Bagheera and sharing in his dying. Because of his death, I’ve put aside my (Working title: “The Cuddle of Cats--Talk to me I'll listen. Listen to me, I'll talk") book ms. for some time. Have recently reread the ms. and I expect to be back working on it soon, though, honestly, it still hurts to do so.

Next article is probably going to be about reducing/defeating poverty. Because I’m catching up on other matters, I haven’t made time to dig into it deeply, apart from participating in a recent day-long Poverty Forum (am awaiting the promised participants’ notes), nor have I considered what illustration I’d like to prepare. (Illustration is a self-reward when piece is completed, and the editor appreciates it..)


My Day Apart Writing/Editing Display
 

Photo for brochure
 

 February 7, 2015. Thoroughly enjoyed being keynote speaker at A Day Apart at Kanata Baptist Church, Kanata, ON, an event sponsored by the Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec for members and other interested women. I was treated very well by the organizers involved, encouraged to display my writing/editing wares, as you see above, and found the participants to be quite responsive.  (Note The Reluctant Caregiver there, above, on right.)

Sold Grandmothers’ Necklace copies and one or two copies of Bobbi Junior’s The Reluctant Caregiver, winner of The Word Publishing’s 2014 Free Publishing Contest and shortlisted for the best non-fiction award-winning book. It is having high impact in the Alberta health system with some repercussions here in Ontario. I have the reflected glory of having edited the initial manuscript. It was a joy to do so. Bobbi gifted me with a personal copy. We began our writer-editor relationship via The Word Guild, before we’d met. Later, we two introverts shared a room, at a Write!Canada conference and we’re still friends!

July Beachburg Fair:
Earned a 5th, a 3rd and a 1st in my writing entries. Appreciated the positive comments made by the judge, particularly those about the children’s story. Hoping I’ll think of a good place to have that published. The children's story came second in another year's competition. I revised it and resubmitted it with a new judge and, success.
Moto Cross picture from Beachburg Fair photos.

Not long ago received my cheque and my copies of The Word in Season, October, November, December issue 2015 (Augsburg Fortress Press), in which I have fourteen devotionals, as opposed to seven last time.

My, I like doing that work! It definitely is work, but I learn more each time I do the research and I feel so good about doing it. Preparation of every devotional, as with preparation of a worship service, is, in itself, a worshipful experience. Haven’t contacted them re. doing something new as yet because when I take that on, apart from when I am also editing a book, everything else is put aside and I MUST get caught up on other matters!

Also out, recently, is an anthology, Encountering Jesus, in which I wrote about a life-changing vision. Today I received my contributor’s copy, and I've seen the book advertised on Amazon, Now I'll get to see the exciting experiences about which others wrote. 

Have a ms. accepted for another of their anthologies. It concerns an unusual dream that our youngest son, Daniel, experienced. Understand there are a couple of other anthologies in the works. (Bethany House)




Was happy to receive a request for a piece about Advent for the November/December issue of Glad Tidings, a national (and international)  Presbyterian Women's Missionary Society publication. Have always enjoyed writing for this publication. Have had worship services, poetry, articles, book reviews, devotionals, short stories, etc. published there.  As the value and meaning of Advent is one of my pet interests, I was more than "glad" to submit this time. I expect the issue will be out in late October. Intending to write an article on the same theme (not same article!) in my November column for the Pembroke Observer.



 I’m committed to completing short stories for two different anthologies but am at the research stage for one of those.


EDITING:
Much of my time is spent in editing. This is one of my main sources of income. Fortunately, I enjoy doing it, am fast, and have happy clients.

As the Ink Flows, an anthology of devotionals (written for Christian writers by a group of Christian writers) which I edited, is to be released in April, 2016. It has a relaxed workbook component to encourage interaction.  I’ve also edited articles and short pieces for some of these contributors. The connection continues.   (This entry has been updated because I goofed on the year of release. I don't have a copy because it isn't out yet!)



Last week received a gift copy of Redemptive Love, Claudia Loopstra’s book. I was her primary  editor. It was a long-term contract, begun after we met at a Write!Canada conference. It lasted approximately three years with time gaps as needed. Claudia did a huge amount of work and we became friends as she developed the book, fitting all the pieces together. The author has been very frank about herself, her faith or the lack of it, and about the dramatically serious and amusing events (sometimes both at the same time) which unfold. It isn’t a book a reader will quickly forget.




At present, I have the ms. and am awaiting the go-ahead from a new writer, whom I met at a day conference presented by the Ottawa Christian Writers' Fellowship with The Word Guild assistance. This author’s work has an unusual style and flow that I think will appeal. Again, there is gentle humour. Though I edit serious and academic pieces, I particularly love reading or editing when there’s some humour—overt, subtle, dry or sly!

PROMO:

Grandmothers' Necklace: Have also been catching up on which places are still carrying copies, and, as a result, submitted some book sales funds to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Hooray! There is still a huge need for the funding to deal with lack of medical, housing and educational assistance that is affected by, and contributes to, the AIDS/HIV pandemic.

Have eliminated some selling sites. Some, which were independent bookstores, have already been eliminated, unfortunately because of closures. Some great sites still remain, and I'm grateful. The newest site is Janna's, which hosted Pot Pourri. Am very grateful to several contributors who continue to promote the book when selling their own! The book is timeless and a great read. Some people asked permission to do a stage presentation involving some of the material. Some excellent monologue material in there. Contributors now have the copyright!

Present GN Selling Sites. www.valleyartisans.com/grandmothersnecklace.htm Full cost of book goes to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. No profit for writers or editor. PLEASE DO ME A FAVOUR. If any of these places ceases to carry the book, please inform me. Don't want people going on a wild goose chase. There is also Amazon but the stores are kindly carrying copies which are already printed and SLF receives the money through me.  Leslie White generously updates the website as we receive the information.






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ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT!
In mid-October, I should be free to take on other editing, so, writers, whether new or with a publication history, if you are seeking an enthusiastic, experienced and informed editor, with decent writing credentials of her own, please keep me in mind.
Enquiries: Use trishelford@hotmail.com, which is the email I check regularly. That way, you won't get lost in the dust.

Soon I’ll post some of my written references from editing clients and from editors of national publications for whom I write/have written. Maybe next post? Or upon request.
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I should also get those up on The Word Guild site!

POLITICS & JUSTICE ISSUES
For much of this year, I’ve daily joined the “Davids”, sling-shot in hand, to spend much of my time, money and energy in trying to “save Canada” by supporting all the organizations, not just political parties, which have geared up to do so.

Patricia, this mini-earner, is bled dry as we struggle to un-do the un-doing of our country.

How can we watch Canada being dismantled and NOT act?! As a Christian and as a person involved in the arts who cares about  God's gift of a beautiful environment, who is concerned about enforced and continuing poverty and its devastating effects, particularly on women and children, etc., I can't ignore it.

Anyone who trustingly thinks destruction in almost every facet of Canadian life has not been happening, (suicide by government) hasn’t been paying enough attention. However, I am discovering there are more "Davids" than I had thought, and in some surprising places. (No, I don't foist political rants on my clients. This is my blog and I'll cry if I want to.)

Surely this is a year’s worth of info. about me. Thank you for browsing through it. Now, imagine yourself receiving a medal!!

Photo courtesy of Adventure Time Wiki



APPLAUSE FOR YOU!
 

 

 
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IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?

To anyone who has checked in periodically, hoping to see something akin to words of wisdom here, I apologize for the black hole. It isn’t that I haven’t been writing or editing or tutoring. It IS that I have been writing, editing, tutoring, AND promoting/supporting our fundraising events and products for the Stephen Lewis Foundation to work as a partner with the grandmothers in Africa who are raising grandchildren orphaned by AIDS/HIV. As a result of my husband’s March heart attack and my own high cholesterol level, I’ve also been learning how to make tasty meals that are low in salt and cholesterol. We’ve been managing to do without, or reduce the amounts of some of our favourite foods. Did you know you can use a vegetable peeler to produce a limited number of five-year-old cheddar cheese curls to give the illusion of still eating the huge chunks on which we used to snack? I’m becoming a very creative salad maker and we’re eating a greater variety of fish than we have for years. Tried making a simple coconut and shrimp dish for the first time and all who ate it gave it a thumbs up. Simple is important because when I edit or write for a day, I’m somewhat of a dishrag, no, make that I AM a dishrag, when it comes time to make a meal. That is the danger time! Easy usually means high calories or high salt. Our efforts seem to be paying off. Robert has just been told to half a blood pressure medication dosage, even with a fairly high intake of dark chocolate!! And, that habit is contagious. I hear the rustle, rustle of the paper, the snap of the bar being broken into small pieces, and even though my back is to him as I read in bed, I begin to salivate for chocolate. “Yes,” I say, before I’m asked, and I succumb, once more, to chocolate. EDITING Since I last made an entry here, I’ve been editing several manuscripts, one of which won Word Alive Publisher’s 2014 prize for best non-fiction manuscript, which means that talented author, Bobbi Junior, is having her book edited, published, promoted and distributed by a well-known Christian publisher. What a great prize! Another two articles which I edited for columnist and anthology contributor, Glenda Dekeema-De Vries, won two awards from The Word Guild’s Annual Competitions. Now, if I keep rubbing editing shoulders with these women, and others of their ilk, and actually get my own manuscripts in where they belong, perhaps, I, too, will be a star! Probably, of the four manuscripts which are poised on the verge, the one which would be of the most value in the Christian world is the one for about-to-be-married couples and the clergy who counsel them. It is a matter of getting it to the right place at the right time, and at my age, I’d better get a move on! My life is a prayerful balancing act, as is the case for many people. WRITING: Some publications of my own while you and I haven’t been in touch include: 1) >Meditations for The Word in Season, Augsburg Fortress Press, July, August, September 2014 issue. July 30th to August 6th inclusive. (One of my FAVOURITE things to research and write! Preparing devotions and worship services always takes me through times of worship myself, enriching the product and enriching my life.) 2) The Worship Service in the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Society’s Glad Tidings anniversary issue. For the 75th anniversary, in addition to writing the Go and Tell worship service, I had designed the logo for a competition. The concept came to me after a nap at Vancouver School of Theology while we were there for my husband’s study leave. It won and was refined by a professional artist to reach the hearts of many, being duplicated in pins, on tote bags and on banners. Penhold Presbyterian Church, one of two Alberta points where Robert was serving at the time, gave me great joy by surprising me with just such a hand-worked banner at the front of their church. 3) Several columns >(some of which are on line) as part of my year’s responsibility as a member of what is called the Pembroke Observer’s Community Editorial Board. So far, they’ve dealt with the importance of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, a unique family-friendly theatre at Garrison (used to be CFB) Petawawa, Troyes Cinema, where the owner does a handstand before each showing, the trials of mammograms, and, last Saturday, abuse of women. 4) For the last two referenced, I did the accompanying art work, in the first case, a clay composition with other materials incorporated and, in the second case, a collage of photos with ink slashed across it to demonstrate life damage. 5) A couple of manuscripts have been submitted to anthologies and are expected to be printed, two of which have to do with experiences of God, one by the author (just notified that it is accepted and contract to follow) and one by a child. 6) Prepared my presentation manuscript,+ related illustrations, as well as my bio for the brochure for A Day Apart for Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec, in February 2014. I have the honour of being key note speaker. (I got to play with bubbles while getting my photograph taken for the brochure!) So, now you have it, a rough idea of why I have been so negligent about keeping my blog up to date. I apologize. I should probably put a note up on my face-book page when I make an entry here so that I am not mentally and emotionally banished to outer darkness by those who are kind enough to check in here.

One Card Photo (see previous post)

Catching Up With You

Greetings, Thank you for dropping by. The original prime purpose of this site was that of promoting Grandmothers’ Necklace, an intriguing collection of short stories and poems compiled and edited by myself in order to raise funds to assist the grandmothers in sub-Saharan Africa who have been persevering in raising their grandchildren—orphaned by AIDS/HIV under conditions that most of us could never begin to, nor want to, imagine. Many talented writers from Ireland, the USA and Canada contributed to this book. People have told me several times that this is a wonderful book to have in the bathroom, as long as one is not worried about line-ups of anxious people awaiting a turn in the reading room. I prefer to think of it as a bedside book, suitable for a few short, satisfying reads before it is time to turn out the light. As recently as last month, Katharine Fletcher, author of several books about tours and trips, in an Ottawa Citizen column, encouraged Ottawa day-trippers to travel to the Valley Artisans Co-op Inc.’s Gallery, in Deep River. Imagine our joy when we saw one paragraph devoted to the book itself, with a recommendation to check it out! The Valley Artisans Co-op Inc., first business in Canada to carry our book, also hosts a page on their FB site about the book and where else in Canada to buy it. The Gallery itself has beautiful original items, perfect for gift-giving. If you check their site at http://www.valleyartisans.com/ , you’ll have some idea of what I mean. Customers from other provinces and countries stop there regularly on their trips through the area. The Valley Artisans have renewed their book supply once again. . Also during this past month, I received $100.00 from sales at the Antrim Truck Stop. Their copies are all gone for now. Orders have just come in from Southern Ontario, persons who have received the book as a gift and now, having read it, want to give it as a gift to friends. The beauty of it is that the contents are not stale-dated and the money can continue to go to help those who are working so hard on their own. What is happening with me, in addition to a continuing interest in promoting the book? One more bit of news re.Grandmothers to Grandmothers. For the annual Grandmothers’Tea sales tables, I was able to create some blank note paper using photos I’d taken in this area and elsewhere. Felt a strong urge to do something a little different in addition to the book. If I can, I’ll put one of the photos on the site. The other Petawawa Grannies (and Grandothers) are doing all sorts of things to work as one with the grandmothers in Africa. They served at a local Boston Pizza for one night and will be doing so again soon. A percentage of all food sales during that time goes to the Grandmothers to Grandmothers. One person made a quilt for auction. There are homemade jams and jellies. My own time is devoted to editing some very interesting manuscripts, tutoring a very capable officer from Garrison Petawawa and to a variety of writing enterprises. One disappointment was that a project in New York City was cancelled due to “artistic differences” among the persons there who had started it. I had hoped to see the monologue I’d submitted presented on the stage off-Broadway. Ah, well. My “The Cuddle of Cats” manuscript continues to receive good reviews from readers. An area veterinarian, after reading it, has stated she’d be happy to write some good words in the introduction or on the back cover. I’m hoping to interest a particular agent in it early next year. If and when it is published, I’d like a portion of the earnings to go the SPCA. Not everything, as is the case with the GN book. This one has to earn some money for our household. A few health challenges for my husband and me keep us from being as active as we would like to be. Still, there’s something to be said for having to be quiet for periods of time. The cats are cuddled nearby, or going mad as the birds and squirrels, back-dropped by the tall pines, give a performance on the window sill. The electrical fireplace is cozy (no fire with an oxygen user!). The music playing is rich and dream-promoting. As one daughter often says, “All is good.”

It's A Pain

Access to computer still erratic. Unnecessarily complicated to get it going which means I have to leave it on for too long at a time or take a chance on its not starting again. Today's dental surgery renders me rather indifferent to that.


Email from View-Bug waiting in pile-up stated I'd won a "Brilliant" award for a photo submitted some time ago. I couldn't actually post it without giving information re. friends, etc. See it at http://www.viewbug.com/photo/1681623# Morning Mist #6 by cheapshot That helps to ease the mouth pain a little.

Something else that authentically helps is reading Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber, who spoke and taught at #Write!Canada 2013. Have only made it to page 47 thus far. Her writing is as intelligent and personable as she was in person. Despite the sadness of some of the early topics, her light touch with them and her sense of humour are making it a joy. It may help me to identify because I, also, am somewhat geographically challenged. I hope to write a review later on. Now to join my Tylenol friends so I can concentrate on reading some more.

I'm grateful to those who have been praying for me re. the challenging dental work and the computer's illness. Thank you.

Oh Canada, God's Love is Here!

It’s just past Canada Day, 2013. I awoke this morning thinking of a hymn text I’d written for a national competition some years ago: “Oh Canada, God’s Love is Here!” Those who have travelled or lived across Canada will be able to identify with the scenes outlined in it. This hymn was never meant to be sung in its entirety at any one time. Its intention and effect would be deadened. Parts of it have been featured on national bulletins and have been used in worship services.


Verses that relate to the area of Canada in which it was sung and those which relate to stewardship are to be used at the time of singing.

The tune for the verses is that of Great Is Thy Faithfulness, sung a little faster than it’s played on this site: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/19 The tune of the chorus is different; the music for that is indicated at the bottom of the page. It received only an honourable mention but I’d still like to share it, instead of leaving it in a manuscripts drawer. A belated Happy Canada Day to you.

Write!Canada, here we come!

Greetings!

It’s that time again—Write!Canada—The annual Writers’ Conference sponsored by The Word Guild, national organization of writers and editors who are Christians! I’ve been happily and busily editing three book manuscripts for the past while, but have put that aside, with the clients’ encouragement, to belatedly prepare my own materials for the conference. An infected tooth has added a challenge. For the time being, that’s defeated by an antibiotic which is intended to carry me until our return home. Then, the tooth, and perhaps its neighbour, must go. No more pain in tooth, jaw and ear!

Of course, I’ll be taking along my consignment copies of Grandmothers Necklace, the anthology of poetry and prose for which the entire sale price brings in money (personally sold nine copies last month) for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers branch of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, to help to fight the tide of AIDS/HIV in Africa. (It is great to be promoting a product of such excellent writing quality. We don’t have to count on compassion sales.) If you buy, please try to buy from one of the outlets across Canada which carry the book for us. If you are also able to buy something else that they provide, so much the better. We’d like to see them rewarded. The sites were carefully chosen as places of quality.

My materials are almost ready for the classes and workshops I’m taking and for my interview times. My display set-up, still eye-catching, (In a nutshell: I’m an editor. I’m a writer. Buy Grandmothers’ Necklace and my writing and hire me to edit. Make me happy.) but deliberately smaller than last year (so I don’t hog quite as much on-site space from other writers), is ready to go into the back seat or the ample trunk of our new red Mazda 6 2014, on top of Robert’s oxygen tanks and our luggage for the trip, the stay at our daughter’s home, and for the Guelph Conference Centre itself.

Yes, Robert bid a sad farewell to the Mazda RX8. We’ll no longer be torturing it by keeping a sports car (that can’t have a block heater) in a carport and expecting it to start in the icy Ottawa Valley mornings. It was a great five years but the time had come. Apparently there were at least four offers for the car while it sat in the lot just after it had gone in. The Petawawa military at the Base Language School used to love it, crowding over to the window to see it when we arrived. May it have a cosy garage for the rest of its “life”.

In our absence, our home will lived in by our son and his wife, whom the cats two adore. (Bagheera frequently moans at the door when their car is pulling out of the driveway.) Daniel and Brenda will have the space they miss when in their apartment. The cats will have younger, livelier companions. During the conference, Robert will stay at the home of our daughter’s family in Burlington. She is a gourmet cook and pampers us. I’ll get to be part of that after the conference, and to spend some time with the grandchildren. Robert and our son-in-law may very well spend part of Father’s Day weekend at the air show in Hamilton!

After my return, I hope to get promised book reviews completed (belatedly), walls painted (still accusingly waiting after our months-long plumbing endurance test), lawns raked and cut, and joyfully continue my editing (meant sincerely. The ms. I have right now are very interesting), and, of course, writing.

More than enough gabbing. Time to take my antibiotic, catch a little more sleep, so I can continue preparations for the week to come.

Peace,

Patricia


Someday I'll learn how to post photos properly in here.