What are you grateful for?

My blogging friend, Pam Young, wrote down her list of things she's grateful for, and I decided to copy her. This is the season to think about such things. 

Gratitude has been on my mind a lot lately - especially since my husband Bob of 42 years seems to be experiencing a lot a pain in his hip, and I worry about him. I don't want anything bad to happen to him, and I'm trying to be positive that nothing will. Our marriage and our friendship is something I am very grateful for. 

Here's my list - at least so far:

• My good health and healthy life style of a good diet and lots of exercise
• My happy marriage
• My wonderful son and daughter-in-law
• That I can continue to write and work toward ending the stigma of mental illness and preventing suicide
• Many loving friends and family members
• That I can still workout or take a walk every day of the week
• That I live in what I think is the most beautiful place in the world – only 10-minutes from the beach
• That we live comfortably in the same house we’ve lived in since 1979
• My ever increasing creativity
• The strength to go on even in the face of a terrible tragedy

So, how about sharing your list with me?

Exciting news

I am so excited that the editors at the Story Circle Network have chosen my memoir as one its November picks.

I joined the Story Circle Network last month, and I’m already reaping its benefits. Here is a short description of its mission, which is right up my alley:

The Story Circle Network, offering classes, workshops, story circles, reading circles, retreats, and conferences, is an international not-for-profit membership organization made up of women who want to document their lives and explore their personal stories through journaling, memoir, autobiography, personal essays, poetry, drama, and mixed-media.

And here is how to get more information:

• To learn more about who we are, go here.
• To learn about our many ongoing activities, subscribe to our free email newsletter.
• For more information, see our FAQ or contact us via email: storycircle at storycircle.org or phone: 512-454-9833 or write to: Story Circle Network, P.O. Box 500127, Austin TX 78750-0127

Thank you, Story Circle Network, for being here for me and other women writers who want to tell their stories and have their stories heard.

More poems from the PAD challenge

I'm keeping up pretty well with the Poem A Day challenge. Sometimes I surprise even myself. Here are a couple I've written in the last week. I've included the prompt so you know what I am trying to express.

Day 6  (a Two-for-Tuesday prompt) which is actually two prompts:

1.    Write a Left Poem

2.    Write a Right Poem

It’s About Balance

If I work the right I have to work the left

like taking my right leg on a ride on the spin bike

well, then the left needs a ride too.

If I twist to right the left also needs to twist

If I cross my legs in the half Lotus 

with one leg over the other,

soon I need to change sides.

But it’s hard to keep it all straight.

One of these days, one side or the other

will get slighted and left out.

I’m right on about that.

Day 8

Talk back to a dead poet. Choose a poem you like by a poet who is no longer living and offer a rebuttal. Dickinson’s line, “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” is just begging for a response. Maybe, unlike Shakespeare,  your lover’s face is EXACTLY like the sun. And don’t we all have something we’d like to say to Sylvia Plath?

(With apologies to Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “First Fig”)

Ah, Edna,

If you only knew

how such a small flame ignites

and strengthens me.

It warms my body

through and through.

I quote these lovely words

incessantly.

But please, oh, please

my friend, tell me

what the hell

the title means. 

Day 12

Write about a piece of technology or engineering that does not exist but that should.  It could be a tribute to something that came to be because of a writer’s imagination, like a helicopter or a submarine or a filtration system that makes urine potable.  Or it could be the original imagination that may one day lead to a new piece of technology, like cloud movers, flood distributors, skyhooks, or levitation chairs.

Giant Snuffer

Fires abound.

Some flare up and spread for days.

And arsonists dance with glee

the orange light of the flames

shining in their eyes.

So I envision

a huge candlesnuffer

one that can expand at will

to cover the entire fire

no matter how widespread.

A plane will drop it from the sky

and it will plunge down

and in an instant snuff the fire out.

And those dancers

will have nothing but dry ashes

to wallow in.

Thank you, Indie Author News, for this great showcase

Featured Indie Book: Leaving the Hall Light On (Madeline Sharples)

Featured Indie Book on Indie Author News: Non-Fiction Advice / Bipolar Disorder and Suicide Leaving the Hall Light On - A Mother's Memoir of Living with Her Son's Bipolar Disorder and Surviving His Suicide - by Madeline Sharples.

Leaving the Hall Light On contains prose, poetry, and photos. And besides that, this quote from a reader who left a note on the Author's Facebook page recently probably says it all:

"Your book has opened my eyes to see the signs and symptoms to look and watch out for. I want to thank you for that. I am so scared that my son will kill himself too. I am trying to education myself on this disease and your book has given me a rude awaking. My son said to me that I am finally taking his disease seriously. Thank you."

The Book has been published via the Indie Publisher Dream of Things and is available as Paperback and eBook via Amazon, B&N and others – 340 pages – released in August 2012.


About the Book

Leaving the Hall Light On charts the near-destruction of one middle-class family whose son committed suicide after a seven-year struggle with bipolar disorder.

Madeline Sharples, author, poet and web journalist, goes deep into her own well of grief to describe her anger, frustration and guilt. She describes many attempts - some successful, some not - to have her son committed to hospital and to keep him on his medication.

The book also charts her and her family's redemption, how she considered suicide herself, and ultimately, her decision to live and take care of herself as a woman, wife, mother and writer.

Click to Read an Excerpt

A note from the author: "I encourage you to read my book if you have been touched by bipolar disorder or suicide. And even if you have not, my book will inspire you to survive your own tragedies."


Reviews (Excerpts)

- “My heart went out to you, Bob and Ben as I read your memoir. I felt like I was there with you in every word, sentence, paragraph, and page. The tragedy, discovery, anxiety, heartbreak, anger, tears, anguish, survival, and bereavement the three of you lived through for several years are the hardest tasks for any human being. The unanswered questions will never be known. I believe that Paul took his life to relieve your pain ... not knowing how it would impact your life forever. Suffering the loss of a loved one will take time to heal. I will send my prayers and positive energy to you, Bob, and Ben.” - Donna (Amazon)

- “For anyone that has lost someone they love, this family can help you navigate your way through the darkness. It's clearly not easy, but it can happen. You can't have the same life, but a different, almost as good life. It is a sad but beautifully written book.” - Dina Kucera

- “I could not put this book down - literally. The writing is so honest and raw. Her words touched me deeply. It is so well written that it was an extremely easy read, despite the painful descriptions of loss. It's about life's most profound pain and it is about reconfirming life. It's about dreams lost and finding meaning. The author remembers and celebrates the good times without (for a moment) letting go of the struggles. I always prefer nonfiction, especially memoirs, especially when you finish the book feeling like you really know - and care about - the author. Thank you for sharing your story. ” - Groupworker (Amazon)

- “This book is a testament to the power of the human soul. It shows the strength of a woman and a family who had to go through the worst human tragedy, and get to the other side in a loving, peaceful and compassionate way. This is the most honest and heartfelt story about losing a son to suicide. She just tells it like it is and anyone can relate to that. They were just a normal regular family who had the worst happen to them. They all got out the other side stronger, closer, healthier, productive and positive. It makes you feel that nothing is too painful. Madeline Sharples lovingly tells the world that anyone can come out the other side, healed and excited about life. I cannot recommend this book more highly. I could not put it down. I loved this book. It make me want to run 20miles, eat healthy, write, create, see my friends and live my life to the fullest. Madeline is an incredible writer that leaves you wanting more. Extraordinary!! ” - Barbs (Amazon)


About the Author

Author Madeline Sharples

Madeline Sharples studied journalism in high school and college and wrote for the high school newspaper, but only started to fulfill her dream to work as a creative writer and journalist late in life. Her memoir, Leaving the Hall Light On: A Mother’s Memoir of Living with Her Son’s Bipolar Disorder and Surviving His Suicide, was released in a hardback edition in 2011 and has just been released in paperback and eBook editions by Dream of Things. It tells the steps she took in living with the loss of her oldest son, first and foremost that she chose to live and take care of herself as a woman, wife, mother, and writer. She hopes that her story will inspire others to find ways to survive their own tragic experiences.

She also co-authored Blue-Collar Women: Trailblazing Women Take on Men-Only Jobs (New Horizon Press, 1994), co-edited the poetry anthology, The Great American Poetry Show, Volumes 1 and 2, and wrote the poems for two photography books, The Emerging Goddess and Intimacy (Paul Blieden, photographer). Her poems have also appeared online and in print magazines.

Madeline’s articles appear regularly in the Naturally Savvy, PsychAlive, Aging Bodies, and Open to Hope. She also posts at her blogs, Choices and at Red Roomand is currently writing a novel. Madeline’s mission since the death of her son is to raise awareness, educate, and erase the stigma of mental illness and suicide in hopes of saving lives.

Madeline and her husband of forty plus years live in Manhattan Beach, California, a small beach community south of Los Angeles. Her younger son Ben lives in Santa Monica, California with his wife Marissa.

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Links to the Author and the Book 

Link to the Author's Website 'Choices'

Connect with the Author via Twitter: @madeline40

Connect with the Author via Facebook: Madeline.Sharples

Link to the Paperback Leaving the Hall Light On on Amazon with Excerpt

Link to the Kindle eBook Leaving the Hall Light On on Amazon with Excerpt