Carolyn R Parsons, Author

My book is going to the Moon!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 21:16:00 +0000

My very first novel is called The Secrets of Rare Moon Tickle. It's a love story, a family drama that is filled with moon references and metaphors about the fictional town that is its setting, Rare Moon Tickle. Why did I write it? Well because I was drawn to the story. Why did I name the place Rare Moon Tickle? Because I am drawn to the moon.

Perhaps I am fascinated by the moon because of my own family lore that has me sitting with my Uncle Bruce Parsons on July 20, 1969, at age three watching the first moonwalk by Neil Armstrong. "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," he said as he took those famous steps. I don't remember the moment, I was only a toddler after all, but I've always known that I watched and it connected me to all the others in the world who saw that event live and forever, and certainly, it connected me to the moon.

It's always fascinated me. The sun, it's owned by all the planets but the moon belongs to earth and earthlings alone. It drew the tides around the shores of Change Islands, where I grew up, and set them back when done. It impacted their heights and changed our moods. It is a part of great literature, the light through yonder window breaking, a line that has survived the ages, is as well known as any ever spoken. The moon is both mystifying and real. She's been adored and explored. And she is also on my freakin' radar bigtime right now.

Because it is with a great deal of excitement that I tell you what is happening this fall! A rocket ship bearing its first commercial payload will be heading for the moon and guess what? My books will be on it! That's right, The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott, my latest novel and all of my past work, an upcoming novella, The Key of Impasto, all my manuscripts, my daughter's poetry book, an essay written by my daughter, a photo created by my granddaughter, a note from my grandson and even my freakin' family tree. That's right, we're all going in digital form, to the moon!

Isn't that out of this world? Literally and Literarily?

How did this all come to be?

See that adorable little guy to the left. He is Perigrine Lander and it will carry the moon box containing the payload. It was created by a company called Astrobotic in Pittsburg, USA. Susan Kaye Quinn, an incredible author is the brains behind this endeavor. She purchased the space on the lander and then hosted a lottery and we all won! 125 authors entered. The goal initially was 50 but received all of our files so quickly and processed them so fast, she had time to take the rest so it was a lottery where everybody won! The initiative is called Writers on the Moon!

This is the first time books will have been sent to the moon in this way. They will be placed, along with the rest of the payload from around the world, in the DHL moon box. Then, when the time comes, sometimes after March 1, it will be transported from there to the launch site. The rocket the lander that will transport our payload is called the Vulcan Centaur and it will be launched in fall of 2021.

The lander will set down on the moon and then the payload will be left on the moon's surface for some future moon explorer to find. The area of the landing is called Lacus Mortis. I have a lovely story and a photo to tell in a future post about the location and the names of the various seas and peaks on the moon. For now, I'm just excited to share this news with you.

There will be lots of videos as things move along of the payload being placed in the lander, the lander going to the launch location, and even, eventually the launch itself. I'll be following the blog at www.writersonthemoon.com and you are all welcome to participate in that. Follow my blog and keep up as well or sign up for my newsletter at the bottom of this post!

Drop over and "like" my page on Facebook, I'll be posting there as well!

Look at the moon, and imagine a tiny library of earth books sitting there awaiting discovery. That's what we have to look forward to!

Oh, and I write historical fiction and if you want to check out my books here you go!

Carolyn R Parsons Amazon

So exciting!

Subscribe to hear more about our trip to the moon!

The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 14:30:00 +0000

The fun things you learn! Did you know you can embed the preview of your book from Amazon Kindle (The "look inside" feature) into your website/blog? Yes you can! I've done it in a post (see below) but you can also do it on the blog directly. It's a great way to pique the interest of your readers and give them easy access to buy it. I have a bunch of posts half finished in the queue and some content coming later on but if you want to see what I mean click on through where it says "READ MORE" because you know, a blog can't show an entire post at once. *eyeroll Anyway, check it out! Carolyn

Three years and I'll be ready for Flats so I'm buying heels!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 15:25:00 +0000

This popped up in my Facebook memories one Thursday and a realization it struck me. In three years, if all goes as it should I'll be here in this house without children for the first time since 1990.

That's right. My first daughter was born in October of 1990 and my youngest in October of 2005. I have had children in the house for thirty years at this point and easy math tells you it will be thirty-three years of parenting in the house, primarily on my own for most of them, by the time the last fledgling hops out of the nest and takes flight.

Who was I before children? I don't even know that girl. Certainly not who I am now. And not who I want to be either but it seems like that carefree, hard-playing, beer-drinking party girl with not a single responsibility in the world is a stranger.

When she's back, older, altered, and high on life rather than alcohol, I think I'll just leave the house every day without telling people I'm going. I'm going to enjoy the lack of other people's things messing up the newborn clean after I finish a tidy. It'll just be me and my husband.

Will I be lonely?

Of course. We all are to some degree and Lonely stalks me like a rejected lover. It lingers around most of us but the key is to never let that sucker have any influence. Many a stupid decision is made after loneliness whispers it in your ear. Fortunately, I am my own best companion. I always have been. I've never found another person who could be the intimate close companion that I could share things with, who wouldn't judge it. I tend to throw all of that into fiction characters, their secrets are my secrets, their pain mine, their joy pulled from my own happy times. I take the loneliness and push it into books and close their covers against its voice.

It's an interesting thing, to observe the transition. It was a strange feeling to know I could go to a writer's retreat in August and leave the two teenagers home alone without a worry. It's odd to know that in a few months the older one will have her driver's license and can take over the bulk of the driving leaving my days less interrupted. How now they take responsibility for their own food more often than not, have friends picking them up to go places instead of begging me for a ride, and have developed their own lives with amazing friends. Heck, the oldest one already has been accepted into her university of choice in the program of her choice and the younger one is already exploring the audition process for the art school she's interested in attending in three years.

And the older ones are raising beautiful families already, bringing me joy through my four grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.

I'll be a sobbing mess when the last baby goes but I'll also be ready for that next big adventure, the brand new solo mission with nobody to care for except the cat.

Meanwhile, I keep writing in between domestic chores and driving kids. Take the pleasure of the days, keep that bastard Lonely knocking at the door, feeding him only crumbs and allowing him entry into my life only when it serves my stories.

It's always all about the stories.

Untamed; I am Cheetah, Hear Me Roar!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 19:18:00 +0000

Goddammit. I am a Cheetah. You my darling are one too. Read the book. The end.

Okay that's not enough but while I wouldn't say that reading this book changed my life, it validated it. It made every random, unexpected and most of all, every JUDGED move I made as a mother, as a wife, as a woman that made me feel on course make sense.

I am not a bandwagon person. I don't always love what everybody loves. I am sceptical but when I heard the raving about this book I decided to check it out. I already really enjoy Doyle's insights through her talks, interviews etc. and so being a fan, during a pandemic, I was easily convinced to shove Untamed to the top of my to-be-read pile and boy am I glad I did.

I wish wish wish every woman would read this. I want mothers to give it to daughters. I want people to just feel the energy and power in every page.

I can't tell you what impressed me most, the raw, real writing, the unorthodox layout or the best friggin' metaphor of the decade but I just devoured this book. I am now a pink bunny hunter and I am a huge fan of Glennon Doyle forever.

Just get it. In paperback because you're gonna want to take notes in the margins. Meanwhile check out this video below which I've shared before. It was created before the book but still has some amazing lessons. I adore this person. She has been on a journey and what she's learned will blow your mind.

Don't Talk to Strangers; But if you're gonna, read this book first.

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 14:07:00 +0000

You can't trust anybody.

You simply can't. Just ask Malcolm Gladwell. Okay, that's not what he says. What he says is that you can't trust yourself to know when somebody is lying and that, even if it doesn't appear to be so much of the time, we usually believe people when they tell us something.

Now does that apply to the internet? Is that why people are believing the most farfetched conspiracy theories about trafficking rings in pizza places? Because we default to believing people just because they say it?

Have you ever had somebody state something as fact that you believed one hundred percent only to find out that it was a complete and utter fabrication? I have and it always jars me. How could I have fallen for the lie so easily?

It used to happen to me all the time. Less so now. Oh, people still lie in outrageous ways, but I'm less shocked by it. Perhaps the political climate and the rise of "media" sources that exist without editorial standards that has me far more skeptical. It's common and it's obvious these days.

I do feel some validation in this book for all the years I told friends of mine getting out of toxic relationships to not trust what their exes said just because they say it. People who leave people who lied to them believe them long after they've been apart. Especially what they say about them. A liar doesn't change their spots, as they say. (That's the saying right? If not, it should be) and the toxic ex is still the arse you divorced. Why would you believe anything they said?

During this pandemic things have been easier when it comes to talking to strangers. But we still must be vigilant on who are we looking to for our information? I still trust health Canada more that some random person claiming to have special knowledge of the situation. Maybe because it's an 'entity' not a person. Its face isn't mismatched to its message, saying the things I want to hear, but rather giving me the objective and comprehensive facts of the matter. Maybe it's because it's never really ever let me down. Experience is the best teacher as they say.

From Hitler's lies of assurance to the British PM prior to WW2, to a Cuban spy who fooled the Americans for years, to the effects of alcohol on college students and the current crisis in policing in the USA, this is a synthesis of information created for the lay reader. Don't believe what people say is the message in this book and it will tell you exactly why.

I've been accused of being both overly optimistic and overly cynical at different times and I think neither is accurate. I'm skeptical, realistic but also fairly calm in the face of hard things. Calm doesn't mean optimistic. Calm means that if there is a fifty percent chance that a bad thing will happen then that means that there is a fifty percent chance the bad thing won't happen and I lean into the latter as it's as likely as the former. If that's optimism, fine. I like to think of it as realism. Information from credible sources calms me even if it's bad news. I stress until I know what I'm dealing with to some degree. Then I set into deal. It's how I've always been.

Far too many people want authorities to tell them what makes them feel good. I want them to tell me the truth. That's probably why you won't find me looking through the depths of You Tube for better sounding answers when somebody tells me the facts.

Anyway, get the book. It's super interesting and easy to read. Especially if you plan on talking to strangers.

Book Review: White Oleander & Poetry

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 23:00:00 +0000

Sometimes I get irritated with the overdone poetry of certain literary fiction writers. But that's a me thing. There is nothing wrong with it. I have issues that are entirely my own.

That explains why, at first, when Janet Fitch describes her character's hair in White Oleander as flowing like glacial milk I cringed a bit because for so long the beauty of a simile was hammered out of my writing. Don't do too many, I was told. Don't do them at all said another. Save them for poetry somebody else advised.

So, recently, when I wrote that "the fishing stages were lined along the tickle like chorus girls, their stiltlike legs jutting at identical angles." I immediately deleted it, even though it was the image that came into my mind about the row of red fishing sheds (called "stages" in Newfoundland and Labrador) that line the length of water I refer to in that passage. It may have been a bad simile but that wasn't the reason it was removed. I removed it for just being one.

"Too precious," the voice of one creative fiction teacher's voice said in my head. "Too pretty," said another. That refrain has marked my writing, made it less poetic, less of what I want it to be.

Because God help me I adore pretty writing. I adore the exquisite play of words that are hauled kicking and screaming from the language and formed into a beautiful series of sentences that utilize all the poetic devices. Similes, metaphors, alliteration. They are old friends. The tiniest sentence can bear the weight of the world when written properly and the best sentences are indeed the small ones that fall heavy. But the literary slumber I take when I fall into a book of pretty language, where the power is all in the beauty of the composition, that is the sleep of the angels.

Janet Fitch has me completely and utterly in love with her language which became less pretty but no less powerful as the story itself drew me in. And draw me in it did. For in the pages of this book is a story of ugliness. A murder tale, no less. A mother-daughter duo of characters who are written as real as summer rain. A story of trauma and pain wrapped in a pretty package. Just like the oleander is poison wrapped in soft white petals.

Get this book. Get a glass of wine. Wrap yourself in both. It's perfect.

Then don't watch the movie. I did. It reminded me of why I rarely do.

Carolyn

I Hope You're not Fine!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 23:00:00 +0000

I'm fine.

Seriously though. Fine.

Actually though, not fine.

I am jubilant! Jeffrey H. Christmas, I'm in a good mood! No, it won't last, yes, there'll be lows and mediums and shit but for right now I'm basking in serotonin and caffeine with so much of the former I don't need much of the latter.

Because the kids are back to school! I know this is a worrisome time for many but I am fortunate because we live in one of the safest places on earth to be during this global pandemic and I finally have time and the will to take back my life.

And I am starting with a near-complete retreat from social media. By that I mean, I've found the value in it for me and will retain that value but I've also found the harm in it, for all, and I'm removing myself from it so that it's no longer pinging every moment of the day.

I can't say I was addicted because doesn't it hurt when you give up an addiction? Don't you go through withdrawal? Don't you sweat and miss it?

(Here is a great documentary on Netflix that I had time to watch AFTER I gave up social media for a week called The Social Dilemma . Check it out.)

Well so far, these days without it have been fantastic. I've read several books, listened to podcasts, danced to my newly created playlists, written, rewritten and blogged and just slept better and been alive and aware.

One of the podcasts I listened to was Glennon Doyle (who also has a wonderful talk on Oprah Winfrey's Super Soul Series about rising out of pain--see below) and the takeaway I got was to feel everything. And you can't feel everything if you're constantly bombarded with interruptions to the things you're supposed to feel but also that "fine" should not be our default feeling. We should aim to feel what's real and that may not be fine but it's human and it's our experience.

How can a person write about what's real, get inside of the heart and soul of the emotions of a character if their own emotions are numbed by the constant pinging of their mobile phone?

Of course, none of that inspired my own decision to go off social media. I'd already decided to take control of things in that manner and had two weeks, a delicious sample, of social free life when we were forced into shutdown and all things were off. And I'm grateful for it. Through social media, I was able to observe all the exquisite behaviours of people as they navigated their new reality, from those who thought that somebody should fix the entire thing asap to those who used their giving spirit as excuses to be out and about which wasn't as noble as it might have seemed at first glance. Great fodder for a writer!

Now though, I'm back out. Thursdays only with a nice scheduler to keep me in line. I still want to participate but on my own time and in my own way.

And also, this is the last you'll hear about this choice. Because there are bigger, better, badder, beautifuller...well you know what I mean, things to talk about.

Like how are you feeling? And if the answer is "fine" then what are you going to do to fix that?

Inspired and Inspiring: A Heart to H-Art chat with Tonia Cianciulli

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 14:19:00 +0000

Nothing like a good heart to h-art!

Tonia Cianciulli, opera singer and author hosts a lovely art series on Instagram Live called Heart to H-Art. This is a companion offering to her Wisharts Artist's spotlight that can be found at her website WishArts where she's interviewed amazing artists like singer-songwriter Alan Doyle and librettist for the world-renowned musical theatre production, Come From Away, Irene Sankoff about how to handle what life throws at you when you live an artistic life. When you wish upon a heart you might get a bit more than a mere star can provide. Check out our chat below!

View this post on Instagram

Such wonderful author and artist talk today with @carolynrparsons Drop a ♥️ while you’re watching! Thank you Carolyn for your supportive and inspiring stories, tips and tools on being an author AND mom to four amazing and artistic children! One of my favourite things Carolyn said was: DO IT AFRAID!! Yasssss!!! If you haven’t read Carolyn’s book, The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott, give yourself the gift of reading it! . #wisharts #anartistsjourney #hearttoheart #hearttohart @flanker_press #theforbiddendreamsofbetsyelliot #theheartsobsession #followyourheart @writersalliancenl @cbcnl #author #artist #musician #art #artistsoninstagram #authorsofinstagram #artisttalk #artistssupportingartists #womensupportingwomen #momssupportingmoms #authorlife #momlife

A post shared by Tonia Evans Cianciulli 🇨🇦 (@toniacianciulli) on Sep 3, 2020 at 12:07pm PDT

Rebranding & Recharging; Writing in a Pandemic

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 18:01:00 +0000

Hello friends! I hope you have been keeping well. This pandemic really threw a wrench into all my best-laid plans and cut short my production year which usually ends in late June but this year came to a halt in March. You see, for a writer, having everybody home for months at a time is a bit of a challenge. I have written but it's been sporadic. Well, I did draft a novella and chucked 55000 words into a novel and wrote a short story I've submitted for a writer's retreat in two days but it still feels like I'm behind. And I am. I think

Now though, we're at zero cases, have mandatory mask laws and generally have a semi-normal existence happening. And the kids are planning to start school in two weeks! So excited. So, I took some time to do a complete rebrand. I've got some interesting work coming to you in the near future. So much. Nothing I can tell you about yet but some good things. Either way, check out the new look, which of course you can see at the top of this blog. Let me know what you think. One friend said "It just pushes the line of Romance Goth and a whole lot of other genres. It is VERY VERY eye-catching and yes.. even seductress...like....lol... JUST LOVE IT. It's like your eyes are just burrowing into the reader's soul... JUST WILD... AWESOME."

Now that's the kind of enthusiasm I love! Let me know what you think.

Carolyn

Canada Book Awards Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 23:23:00 +0000

You may have noticed above, a fancy sticker on the cover of The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott! You cannot imagine my excitement to get an email on the eve of a massive snowstorm here in the province informing me that "Betsy" was a Canada Book Awards Winner.

What the heck is it? I knew you would ask that. Here is what I was told in my congratulations email.

“The Canada Book Awards program recognizes Canadian books for their creative achievement and contribution to the world."

" Multiple award-winning author Randall Dale Chipkar founded the Canada Book Awards program to recognize and promote Canadian author accomplishment."

"The Canada Book Awards program recognizes and promotes Canadian author outstanding accomplishment.”

I am thrilled that 'Betsy' met the criteria of the awarding committee and was given this honour. Thank you Canada Book Awards for awarding The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott a Canada Book Award!

Happy New Year! Big plans for 2020!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 17:27:00 +0000

Hello out there!
Here I go again, not posting forEVER then jumping in on the last day of the year to write a blog post!

How did I get out of the blogging habit anyway? It was a great deal of fun and I don't even know why I stopped.

Anyway, here we are on the cusp of a new year. Looking back over the last one as I set her with my hair in a clip, shawl over my shoulders, trying to decide if I should tidy up or read a book, I do neither by blogging. Seems about right.

2019 was, by all accounts a stellar one. I published my first historical fiction book and it seems to have been well received by most people. It's not a bestseller, it isn't an award winner but it's a project people who read it responded to enthusiastically.

I did a huge number of book signings, even a very well-attended one in Stratford, Ontario when I was there in the fall.

There were reader reviews and editorial reviews and I'm pleased that people liked the story I wrote.

So while that was a lot of fun, it may be surprising to discover that this upcoming year I'm still writing, of course, but I'm also taking a new direction and I'm not even going to tell you what it is.

It's something I've always wanted to do, it's writing-related and I'm looking forward to a whole new endeavor that is outside the creative arts, or at least outside of what people think of when they think creative arts.

It's something to get me out of the house as well!

Tune in sometime in 2020 for news on that!

Oh, and if you want more stories. For no reason other than if forces me to write short stories with the information I've gathered over the years, here ya go.

Get a FREE Story!

Happy New Year!

Carolyn

Best Historical Fiction Drama Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 17:04:00 +0000

A big focus of many writers is acquiring reviews for their books on Amazon or Goodreads. I admit I do search for the historical fiction drama reviews for The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott because I do like to know if readers like it or not. Readers are often quite willing to write a few lines and hit the star count that applies. It takes a few moments and it is appreciated by the author and the reader.

To leave a review on Amazon Books a user must be a shopper at Amazon with a minimum annual purchase of $50.

Not every reader has this option. For those people, a Goodreads account is a nice way to talk about books without any required purchases.

It's essentially a social media platform for readers and writers!

I've written and received reviews there so if you're interested in becoming engaged as a reader of books on social media, help influence readers' choices and just become part of a like-minded community I highly recommend you set up an account.

And if you're inclined you can leave a review for The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott below and read some reviews already there!

I'd very much appreciate your feedback!

Carolyn

Goodreads reviews for The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott

Reviews from Goodreads.com

Historical Fiction Book EBC Reviews The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Fri, 24 May 2019 18:17:00 +0000

From the review:
"This book had me at Chapter One when I was introduced to Betsy carrying not one but two buckets of water on her long trek home. Struggling with the weight and the rough terrain under her feet, she stumbles upon a stranger who offers to help. Intriguing already, right? Parsons knows just how to captivate her audience...MORE

It has been a fast and furious journey with Betsy! And it's also been overwhelming. I am thrilled at the reception that my debut novel has received from readers and reviewers. Both are important as far as I'm concerned, the readers because they're the ones I wrote it for, and the reviewers because they recommend the book to readers.

Most recently the book was reviewed by Edward's Book Club, a blog site that has been reviewing books for nearly two decades. Now branded as EBC Reviews with a new website to match, it was thrilling to be featured in there after spending years reading reviews of other people's books on the site.

Thank you, Christa McGrath, for your excellent and thorough review! Your time and compliments of my work are so very much appreciated!

SEVEN Facts about Betsy Elliott that didn't make it into the book!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 20:33:00 +0000

When writing a book often an author will create characters sketches, entire backgrounds for characters that don't make it on to the pages but help them to know their character and what makes them tick. It helps with motivation and gives a layer of reality to the character that is helpful when telling their story.

In addition to character sketches, The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott is set in history & some real historical connections are presented through other characters who were actually real people but are making "cameos" in the story.

Here are SEVEN things you should know about Betsy Elliott and her world in 1933 rural Newfoundland and Labrador that didn't make quite it into the book!

Betsy was born in 1912. Her birthday is on October 11, 1912.
Her parents are Fanny and Roland Crane. Fanny's maiden name is Lyver.
Betsy's neighbour, Mrs. Parsons, is the daughter of Joseph Edmund Elliott who invented the codtrap.
Betsy's father, Roland Crane served in World War One. He contracted Spanish influenza but survived unlike fifty million other souls worldwide in 1918 and 1919.
The book is inspired by my grade four teacher, Miss White (now Linda Peckford) after she told me the story of how my grandmother used to bring "a turn of water" from the well, a thirty-minute walk, every day. I built the story around the image of that in my mind.
The horse in the story is actually a Newfoundland pony. In Newfoundland's past, ponies and horses were all referred to as horses. (I spend some time on the council of the Newfoundland Pony Society.
The Newfoundland pony Star in the book was named after the pony my family owned when I was growing up.

Bonus: The story was drafted as I listened to the song The Calendar by Newfoundland and Labrador songwriter Ian Foster.

I hope you enjoyed getting to know Betsy a bit better, and if you haven't read her story yet you can buy her books wherever Flanker Press Ltd sells them and worldwide on Amazon both in paperback and as an ebook. It's also available in other ebook formats like Kobo.

Carolyn

Book Release! The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 13:00:00 +0000

It's finally time! The book has been released! Today, February 13, 2019, my fifth book, my debut novel with my new publisher Flanker Press Ltd, is available! For now, it has limited availability online but over the next few weeks, you should see copies on shelves in bookstores like Chapters and Coles and wherever paperbacks are sold!

It's available in both paperback and Amazon Kindle! Over the next few weeks, I've some television and radio interviews booked and will be talking about this book a lot as the shelves fill up with copies.

It's an exciting time and I have to give major kudos to my publishing company who are incredibly helpful, supportive and excited. It's fun when your publishing team is as excited about your story as you are!

You can pick up the book online at AMAZON or at the FLANKER PRESS website.

I hope those of you who read the book take the time to let me know your thoughts. Betsy's an unusual character, atypical and highly interesting. I think you'll like her.

Carolyn

The Countdown is on!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 15:54:00 +0000

The countdown is on! On February 27, 2019 the official book launch for The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott takes place at Chapters Books in St. John's! Information about the event can be found HERE! If you're in Central NL there will be a second launch event at Citadel House in Lewisporte on March 8, 2019 at 7pm! The official release date of the book is February 13 and you should be able to get the book at all regular locations by the date of the launch! If you're in either area be sure to stop by. Starbuck Canada coffee and light refreshments will be served.

Live from the Rock!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 22:11:00 +0000

I am getting pretty darned excited about my new book coming out next month! Plans are swirling around for a launch, book signings and all kinds of other fun things about The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott. Meanwhile I've started live broadcasting from a page I manage called For the Love of the Rock which you can like by clicking HERE. It's a page about all things Newfoundland and Labrador and with about 20,000 members it's become quite an active little community of people who love our province. Jump in, join in the fun! We have a mystery word that I mention in the video. Watch and see if you know what it means! Carolyn

My Artistic Life

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 14:10:00 +0000

It is a pretty day, though icy cold. I just drafted a column for the Central Voice and now can move on to other work. Finally the tree is out of the living room after a week of having it stripped of its pretty decorations I got tired of waiting for it to be disassembled and I hauled that sucker down myself last night though it's not entirely stuffed in its box, it is out of my living room and near the stairs for its eventual foray into the basement. I can't lift it and I'm allergic to it but I could not stand the clutter any longer.

Speaking of clutter, has anyone watched that Marie Kondo show on Netflix, where you're to throw out anything that doesn't spark joy? If I did that the tree would be out on the lawn which would spark tons of joy for me now but next year might pose a bit of a problem.

Do you know the best way to avoid clutter? Stop shopping!

I can't stand shopping though recently I had to do a bit. I order anything I need online and expect several packages this week. A tripod for broadcasting, which is work related and a cell phone case for my daughter because she keeps dropping her new phone.

I will be purging my clothing drawers soon and trust me, upon finishing that annual ritual, my clutter will be limited. I am making space for lots of road trips and book events which will start about a month from now!

Here is the link to my most recent Art & Soul column. It goes all over the Saltwire network and this time it comes courtesy of the Western Star.

And then there's the podcast which you can subscribe to on nearly any podcast hosting platform but also here on Spreaker, our own platform for the show. Nick Mercer talks sketch comedy and community theater and we laughed a lot and I learned about the joys of creating comedy.

New Headshot & a Video!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 15:55:00 +0000

Waddya think?
Also here is a video I made today with Kathryn Taylor of Let's Get Writing! Check it out!

Deadlines Done, Christmas on the Agenda!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 14:52:00 +0000

Winter has arrived in its glorious splendor and I managed to get all my deadlines met and so I'm a bit relaxed as I plan a weekend of baking our annual Christmas cookies & finish my shopping. I'm not looking forward to the latter. This year I cut my Christmas budget in half and guess what? Less shopping! It's totally a win-win. Now I putter around, putting things in order for next year!

My intent is always to share my column with you but I keep forgetting! Here is my latest offering in The Central Voice of Art & Soul. I interviewed a talented young musician, Nick Earle who, along with his buddy, Joe Coffin was just awarded a Canadian Folk Music award. Nick was in town so I went to the studio at Citadel House where we had a grand chat about his work. You can hear the interview here at Bridges Radio. A new episode airs tonight which will feature a song by this award-winning blues duo.

Meanwhile, I must carry on with my preparations for the upcoming holidays. The bank account is about to take a beating! Carry on and stay safe friends!

Carolyn

Production Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 14:48:00 +0000

Does every family have a birthday month? You know, one month that every birthday seems to fall into? For us that's October but the biggest celebration for us will be Martina, the baby of the family, turning thirteen! I always tease her she's been twelve for years! I think it seems like this year was extra long because of how much she did, the biggest of her accomplishments being that she was the lead in the Beyond Youth Theater production of Peter and the Starcatcher. I think that the entire cast and crew(Her sister was assistant stage manager) will remember that experience as a huge turning point in their lives. So I created this collage for her as a celebration. Her birthday isn't until next week but we like to over-celebrate these occasions.

As for me, my Co-host on Bridges Radio moved to Toronto for a couple months so we're doing the show via distance. I've book interviews up into mid-November, have the next three radio shows, tonight and the next three weeks already scheduled to go online AND I've drafted my next two columns, with the first one due next week, all but complete and ready to go. I've been walking regularly on the treadmill, eating a tad bit better though I could improve, finally purchased some vitamins (the day pot became legal) and no, not that kind of herbal supplement, not that I'm opposed to it if it's your thing.

Here is the radio show player, which is a nifty little thing and available on the Bridges Radio page on this site. Also, here is my last column featuring Singer-songwriter-performer-teacher multi-award-winning Adam Baxter about finding balance. (He's awfully hyphenated uh?) Enjoy a wonderful weekend. Listen to "Bridges Radio Show" on Spreaker.

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 00:30:00 +0000

Two for One! Here is the Radio Show, episode One, live! And also, the column from The Central Voice. Check it out! Art & Soul in the Central Voice! Listen to "Bridges Radio Show" on Spreaker.

UPDATE on Me! Radio Show and a Newspaper Column!

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 14:06:00 +0000

It's been an entire summer since I've updated this space but it is my intention to do more of that going forward! Summer is not writing time, though, on the plus side I have completed about a 1/3 of a literary novel I'm working on. I've got great news...I'm collaborating with the most awesome company in the province, Citadel House, to produce a radio program, featuring the artists--musicians, visual artists, photographers, singers, actors, film makers-- and it goes online with its first episode tonight! There is an extra page on this site that is now a page for the radio who and you can find episodes as they upload on that page! Also, I started writing an arts column for the new regional newspaper, The Central Voice. This does beg the question, what is an arts column? Well, it's mainly an experiment. I interview artists for the radio show, and then from that I express opinions about art and life and stuff inspired by the interview. Sound strange? Sure is. But also a lot of fun. I'll be posting links to the column as they go online. If you can't wait and you're in the central region of the province, grab the paper (FREE) around the area from wherever you pick up flyers. Meanwhile, it's a sunny day, I'm getting some work done before I drive to Stephenville for the first stop of the Literary Tour NL! More details about that going forward! I'll be back soon! Carolyn

Flash Fiction Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 11:46:00 +0000

Flash Fiction: Short and sweet. Very difficult. Trying to create a story arc in 250 words. My friend and I, April Lindfors are doing a challenge. We give each other an image and we each have to write a 250 word Flash about it. Here is my first in the challenge. I call it Forgiveness

My first trek through the forest to the land of Intar was the saddest day of my days. It did not occur to me that I would repeat the necessary journey just several years later.

Would I find you? Would they let you go? Would you come if they did?

Now, as then, it seemed to take a hundred years to walk an hour. My feet hesitated at every step, they knew direction, they did not trust my motive. I’d promised to never go back, yet, here I was.

I stopped just once, to drink strong tea from the lanbor plant. It fortified me. I longed to see you, to whisper love to you, touch your face.

I had reconciled to your eternal absence. I’d learned to live with the hole in my soul, such that it was a familiar and beloved crevasse. So, I dreaded seeing you, as much as I desired it.

As before, in the clearing, the Jannings met me. They swooped in, tugged my hair, lifted my gown, reached for the gold in my palm, then led me forward.

I knew you by your light. You knew me not. At first. Then I said, you are the only way.

I trembled. Expecting rejection. You recognized my voice.

I am already there, you said. Because you are mine.

A singular clang rang out. The gap in my soul closed.

The Jannings decided. They perched on your shoulder as you led me back home.

Planting Seeds; A Marketing Workshop for Authors

noreply@blogger.com (Carolyn R. Parsons) — Sat, 26 May 2018 17:54:00 +0000

Hey everybody!

Life gets away from you I tell ya! Made a commitment to post weekly on this blog months ago. It's obvious that I have commitment issues. I could go into a multitude of details about what I've been up to but the short of it (because you don't want the long of it) is that I'm writing up a storm and throwing my entire focus into my writing and the literary world. I've step by step transitioned out of nearly all major time-consuming non-writing related obligations and have moved into literary pursuits with in a huge way. Literary Events NL has become Literary Events NL Inc., incorporating as a not for profit a short while ago, and we're moving well in our planning of the fall tour starting in September. In addition to that, I've taken on a board role with the Writers Alliance of NL, which so far is proving to be very interesting. In fact, I'll be facilitating a workshop, online, (which means anybody anywhere in the world can take it) in June. I'm really looking forward to it. We've a few people signed up and excited to learn more about marketing their work, and I'm excited to do more marketing of my own. I've got several exciting projects that I'm moving forward with in a big way very soon...stay tuned! If you're an author, interested in marketing, check out our workshop. I'd love to have you there! Here is a link for more information on signing up! Planting Seeds; Marketing for Authors.

See you soon!

Carolyn