Bucket Lists & Memoirs by Diane Bator

 

To Buy All That Shimmers

A funny thing happened while Victoria Chatham and I were at a Christmas Farmer's Market selling our books. A lovely woman came over to share that people kept telling her to write a book of her experiences because she'd had some interesting ones. When she told us about a Christmas tree her family had when she was a kid, we were both hooked! The longer we chatted, the more intrigued we were. I lost track of how long we talked with her, but came away in awe.

Over the years I've done a few podcasts and blog posts and always find it fascinating how other people actually want to hear my story. I know I'm not alone in that. This woman doubted the validity of how wonderful her stories - and her ability to tell those stories - actually was. The more Victoria and I encouraged her, the more animated she became. I have no doubt she went home and started figuring out how to write her story.

The last thing she told me before she left was how she'd recently turned 70 and decided she wanted to go to Europe. Her husband had no interest in going. So she went alone and had the time of her life! She's also been indoor skydiving (something on my bucket list), and checked off a few other items she's only dreamed about doing. Writing her book will be next.

That got me thinking about my own bucket list and how I've been ticking a few boxes of my own.

I won't lie, 2023 has been difficult in so many ways, but I have done a few things I'm proud of:

• published my 15th book, All That Shimmers
• moving across Canada solo with two cats
• driving from Calgary to Penticton for the Wine Country Writers' Festival, again solo but no cats!
• setting a few personal boundaries
• meeting new people
• meeting people I've known virtually for years
• attending When Words Collide in person!
• started to learn some new skills that will come in handy in 2024
• connecting with writing friends and starting a monthly Zoom chat 
• guesting on several podcasts and blogs and making some great connections
• starting to read other people's book again!
• moving closer to the mountains
• starting to write short stories again and having them published in anthologies
• hanging out with family when we can
• becoming my own cheerleader - something a lot of people struggle with

What's on the horizon for 2024? Probably catching my breath after 2023!

The good thing is, I have a month to figure it out!

What's on your bucket list?

Is there a book you long to write? I'm not only a writer, but also a book coach and can help! For coaching info:  https://www.dianebator.ca/

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Diane Bator

https://bwlpublishing.ca/bator-diane/

Saying Goodbye to a Writing Friend by Diane Bator

 

https://books2read.com/All-That-Shimmers

When you become part of a writing group, you tend to develop some close friendships. In joining the Headwaters Writers’ Guild in April 2007, I had no idea how that journey would become such a huge part of my life.

Founded by Nancy Rorke and Janet Bellinger after taking courses with Ed Wildman (who had trained with Natalie Goldberg), the HWG was never a large group. We fluctuated between 5-20 members depending on the year, the season, or the Sunday. We met every second Sunday in various locations for various reasons. When I first joined, we met in the basement at the Orangeville Public Library. Then were unceremoniously kicked out when they wanted to charge us rent. A few times, we met in the boardroom at the Meridian Credit Union since we held a bank account there.

One of our many great events!

As luck had it, one of our members was a pastor’s wife. She made arrangements for us to move to the basement of Tweedsmuir Church up the street for a few years. Then the library hired new management and had a change of heart. We were allowed to use the community room provided we assist with their new programming – WOW, or Words the Orangeville Way. And we did!

Open Mic Night!

Open Mic Nights, author panels, guest speakers, workshops, all went under the banner of WOW. Many of our writers participated and it was a great way to meet new writers to bring into our fold. We also offered retreats at Eramosa Eden in Rockwood, which was partly owned by two of our members, sisters Gloria and Alberta Nye. Our local coffee shop, Mochaberry, was often our after meeting destination.

Christmas parties over the years were held at a variety of locations. King’s Buffet was a favorite, also potlucks at the library, and another local buffet, the name of which escapes me.

My very first retreat with the group was the first time I dared to put a book out for critique. And regretted it! My story, my words, my baby was picked apart. I was devastated! BUT, I did go back and made some changes. In 2010, I found an agent, then a publisher. While The Bookstore Lady underwent many more changes and edits, I was grateful for the support of the group.

Why the longwinded reminiscence? Nancy Rorke passed away at the end of this October. I hadn’t seen her for a few years as she’d suffered health issues and I’d gone down my own rabbit hole, but her fire-cracker spirit has lived on in things I write. She was always heavy-handed with writing criticism within the group, but always with the best of intentions. She could be a great shoulder to lean on when you needed writing or moral support.

Patricia Gallant, Diane Bator, Nancy Rorke, Judy Zarowny at Authors & Armchairs 2011

Our lives went in separate directions a few years ago, but I still think of her fondly. She was one of those people who made me more determined than ever to “make it.” To be a published author and to share my stories with the world.

Thank you, Nancy, for your love, your endless support, and your spirit. You will live on in many hearts.

Love Always, 

Diane

Writer On the Move, Part 2 by Diane Bator

 

Click to Buy!

I have a lot in common with my main character, Laken, in All That Shimmers. 

No, I didn't find my ex-husband dead.

No, I'm not exactly a former model either.

I do love a good mystery AND I did leave my old life behind and trek across thousands of miles to start over.

Laken, however, didn't have two cats.

The cats definitely made the 5 day trip more interesting. First of all, there was our very first hotel stop in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The hotel was a bit creepy on the outside. And the kitties and I were on the second floor. No elevator. I got exercise. Everyone else in the hotel got entertainment.

We were fine until I checked in and went to get the kitties who were both secure in their carriers. Or so I thought.

Jazz was fine. Snug as a furry bug.

Ash, my 22 pound ball of fur, fell to the gravel when her carrier fell apart in my hands!

My skittish, fur baby proceeded to run UNDER my car and across the parking lot without me. I dropped everyhing and chased after her. Around two trucks that were parked - thank goodness no one else was checking in right then! - and found my girl sprawled on the gravel near the ditch SUNBATHING!! Of course she scrambled under cover of the nearest truck the second I stepped toward her. Try as I might. She refused to come out. Lucky for me there was a man nearby and I asked him to please keep an eye on her so I could get some treats. 

Back to the car. Put Jazz back inside for safety. Grab some treats and put the bits of carrier back into sort of one piece. Try to lure Ash who goes beneath the second truck. This time, I can reach her. I get on hands and knees in the gravel and pull her out. We're both dusty and have nasty rock bites, but she's wrapped in my arms. I unceremoniously plunk her back into the wobbly carrier and carry her up the stairs and halfway down the hall to our room before...It falls apart again! 

More entertainment for people coming and going from their rooms. Including the guy who checked me in who had no idea what to say when I asked where the nearest pet store was. I meant for a new carrier, but at that point...

Did I mention she weighs 22 pounds?

I leave the carrier in the hallway and carry my terrified cat down the hall and into our room where I lock her in the bathroom. Thankfully, the rest of the haul went smoothly! With both cats in the hotel room, fed, watered, and litterboxes ready, I searched online for a nearby pet supply store. Miraculously, one is 5 minutes away! I get the luxury model with extra screws and bolts to hold her in securely and plunk down $85. Ouch! But, it has one great feature Ash loves for the rest of the trip:  a sunroof! She can see everything and doze in the sunshine.

I should've picked up two. 

Jazz was jealous, owly, and wanted nothing more than to gouge my eyes out for the entire trip! Until we got to a hotel where he could come on the bed with me and cuddle. That seemed to help. At least until the next morning.

The trip wasn't all about cranky cats. I saw scenery that made me gasp and some amazing wildlife. A black bear, two moose, two sandhill cranes walking in the ditch, 2 coyotes, dozens of pronghorn antelope across the southern prairies, and a pair of hawks - male and female - out hunting. I truly felt blessed.

Happy to report the kitties are settled into our new home and somewhat contented.

Ash getting a back rub.

Jazz on the new couch.

  
Now that the nightmare is behind them, they're both back to soaking up the sunshine and fresh air and hogging my bed at night!

And I can get settled and back to writing.

Have a Happy Summer!

Diane Bator

https://dianebator.ca/

https://bwlpublishing.ca/bator-diane/

Writer on the Move by Diane Bator

https://bwlpublishing.ca/bator-diane/

A writer on the move. That sums up my life about now.

For anyone who has ever wished they could run away from their lives and go somewhere else to start a new life…I’m living your dream!

In all the midst of promoting my latest book, All That Shimmers, I’ve also been packing to move across Canada. Who knew I had so many copies of my own books for events and whatnot let alone friend’s books and my TBR pile? You know you have a problem when you plan to take more books than kitchen accessories!

Now that the kids are grown and doing their own great things, and a few other things haven’t gone the way I’d hoped, it seemed like a good time to hit the road and “go back home.” Yup, I said it. It won’t be a Hallmark movie. I guarantee that. There was no high school sweetheart. No guy I left—or who left me—at the altar.

I’m looking forward to going back to see family and old friends.

To spend time writing without other responsibilities for a little while. Until a new job comes along, that is! A writer needs to eat and pay rent, you know.

And feed their adoring cats!

Ash and Jazz, my furry companions whom I’ve dubbed the Hallelujah Chorus, will be joining me. To date, they don’t travel well. My hope is that after an hour on the road they’ll give up singing and take a nap. After 8 hours in the car, they might plot my death once we reach the hotel though.

I used to be afraid of so many things in life. Death, taxes, driving the 401 freeway in Ontario, but after all the changes I’ve had to deal with in the past few years I’m ready for a challenge. In the past couple weeks, I’ve done some interesting things:

· Bought a new-to-me car.

· Rented a new apartment sight unseen.

· Packed everything I own and figuring out how to Tetris it all into my new-to-me car.

· Said goodbye to friends and co-workers, some I’ve known for nearly 18 years, worked with, wrote with, and trained with.

· Mapped out a route to drive 3300ish kilometers across the country alone over 5 days with 2 cats and staying in 4 hotels.

· Scanned hundreds of journals, school photos, family photos and the like so I have less paper to move.

· Learned how to use the cool new features of said new-to-me car.

· Took about a thousand deep breaths and wondered if I was doing the right thing—only to have more things happen to remind me that I have great things awaiting. I’ll be able to share more of those down the road.

In the meantime, there’s more packing and scanning to do and cat stuff to prepare.

Then I’ll set out for my drive across Canada.

I’ll let you know how it goes!

Diane

https://bwlpublishing.ca/bator-diane/

My Time Writing with Natalie Goldberg - Part 3 by Diane Bator

 

COMING SOON!!

https://bwlpublishing.ca/bator-diane/

As I wound down to the end of my Writing Down the Bones Course with Natalie Goldberg, I was struck by a couple things from the last couple videos. As writers, we always tend to weave little bits of ourselves into our work. In interviews and videos, we aren't always conscious of those things that we have already revealed. 

My favorite video in Natalie's series was the one where she discussed her sexuality. Not because it was salacious or revealing, but because it was so raw. So honest. So vulnerable.

Writers tend to forget to be raw and vulnerable in their work. We don't always dig deep to put ourselves in the shoes of our protagonists and let their emotions flow. Without digging deep, our characters fall flat. Sometimes we forget that we--and our readers--are living through those characters vicariously. We need to make them more human.

This course was something unexpected for me. In doing the writing practice, I discovered more about myself. It literally did change my life. So much so, I ended up making the decision to move across the country closer to family. Not everyone is pleased by the decision but you sure find out who your real friends are!

Since finishing the course, I've been paring down. Getting rid of everything I can't mail to Alberta or fit in my car. In two months, I will be loading my car with my clothes and two cats and driving across Canada.

Crazy? Maybe! But we're going to have one amazing adventure!

To follow along, find me on social media!  Find my links on:  www.dianebator.ca

Chat with you next month!

https://bwlpublishing.ca/bator-diane/

My Time Writing Down the Bones with Natalie Goldberg, Part 2, by Diane Bator

 

Book 2, Dead Man's Doll

Since starting the virtual Writing Down the Bones course with Natalie Goldberg, I find myself slowing down. Feeling the snow on my face as I did with my kids when they were young. Laughing when I find fluffy, white turkey feathers that have made their way from the costume hanging in the upper lobby at work on my desk a floor below.

I find myself taking 10 minutes to myself a couple times a day to write. My topics? The walk I took to the coffee shop one day in the wind and finding a clean, crisp twenty dollar bill that hadn't blown away yet on the sidewalk. The taste of the Americano I bought and how I loathed that taste for years even though I'd always loved the comforting scent. To write about the puffy flakes of snow falling or the icy pellets tapping on the glass to be let in.

I find that I'm focusing on details more lately where before I mostly focused on the dialogue in my books. Even while editing my latest work in progress, All That Shimmers, I've added more details than in any of my previous books.

So far, I've finished the first three out of four sections in the course. I've also read three of Natalie's writing books and was able to join in a Zoom call with my mentor herself! I swear I barely listened to the first few minutes, I was just in awe by the experience. She was gracious enough to answer questions from the group for the entire hour.

Which of her books have I read so far?

• Writing Down the Bones
• Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life
• Thunder & Lightning: Cracking Open the Writer's Craft

If you're looking for a little inspiration to improve your own writing, I'd highly recommend any of them. Just as they helped with my upcoming book, All That Shimmers, Glitter Bay Book 3 that comes out in May. Watch for the new cover next month!

You can find my work at https://bwlpublishing.ca/bator-diane/

Happy Reading. Happy Writing!

Diane

    

Book 1 Drop Dead Cowboy