What’s it like to be a writer?

Pat Mestern — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:47:27 +0000

I’m always asked what’s it like to be a writer. How do I handle all the publicity, all the fans, any negative reviews, positive reviews. The answer(s) are quite simple.

What’s it like to be a writer? I don’t write for a living, thank goodness. If I did, I’d starve to death in a dirty sleeping bag under a bridge somewhere. I write for the love of putting words to paper, of telling a story that has been fermenting in my mind for months – years and needs to be told. I lead a somewhat normal life, as normal as one can be when one gets on a writing bender. On the other hand, there are days, weeks or even months when the well runs dry and I get bored. That’s when I turn to travel and lifestyle writing . . .

How do I handle all the publicity? What publicity? As I’m not one of CanLit’s family of the chosen twenty, getting publicity for my books is an ongoing struggle, for my publishers and for myself. I write well. I have books in the personal libraries of the President of the U.S. of A, and of Canada’s Governor General yet, my name is not exactly a household word. By the way, I wouldn’t want to be one of those twenty chosen individuals. I’d find living in a fishbowl a difficult job.

How do I handle my fans? I love them to bits. I love to hear from people who have actually read my books, who have questions about the characters, who can hardly wait for the next work of fiction to be published. Bring ‘em on! But, not by the busload please. I’ve had that happen – fun and games. Thanks to great neighbours I was able to come up with cookies, iced tea and a couple of gardens to tour.

What about those negative reviews? I’ve not ever had a negative review. I did have one group of Amish, or was it Mennonite, people took a dislike to ”Anna, A Child of the Poor House” and “Rachael’s Legacy”. One of their deacons said that the books were ”sinful” and subsequently both books – all copies circulating in the community as a matter of fact were burned. Burned! Can you believe that in this day and age. I’ve no idea why the burning of the books. I don’t write smut or bodice rippers. I don’t have excessive violence or any sex (I close doors) in my works. Appaently, the womenfolk were well into the stories and thoroughly enjoying them before one of the men – a deacon in one of the churches browsed the books and decreed that they be turned into firewood. The other side of the coin is that “Rachael’s Legacy” is listed as a source for biographical information by a Mennonite group in Iowa. So you never know what’s coming down the tubes, surprises are the spice of life!

How about the positive reviews? I love them. I’d love to have more. If any of my dedicated readers, and those who’ve just found my books, would like to post a review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or even Chapter/Indigo or Goodreads.com – any website that accepts reviews, please feel free to do so. And, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

If you have any difficulty getting any of titles, espcially “Magdalena’s Song” or “No Choice But Freedom” please contact Ingalls Publishing Group, my U.S. publisher. www.ingallspublishinggroup.com If I’ve got that link wrong, just google Ingalls Publishing Group. At the moment, both titles “Clara” and “Anna, A Child of the Poor House” are out of print. They may be republished soon. They should be available through interlibrary loan. For the time being, I’d suggest Magdalena’s Song, No Choice But Freedom and my favourite Granite. Have a great read.

Ingle Ken’lt

Pat Mestern — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:16:56 +0000

Ingle Ken’lt
“Hearth Rekindled”
From the northern white of the winter’s snow -
From the eastern blue of the spring’s new moon -
From the western red of the summer’s sun -
From the southern gold of the autumn’s leaves -
Come coals from the hearth’s flame,
Entrusted to the hands of friends.
Though the fire has died in the ancestral home,
Its spirit remains alive.
When touched to wood in the new laid hearth,
The warmth is rekindled again.

For warmth is friendship,
And friendship is love,
And love is bestowed up on all.
Let the door fore’er be open -
Let the cawther run free.
It is sung far and wide,
That this ever may be.

The home is the hearth.
The hearth is the flame.
The flame is the spirit of love.
Let all know, from whence they came,
They are warmed by this hearth and this flame.

                        Pat Mestern c1984

The Will to Succeed

admin — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:33:09 +0000

“The Talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well, without a thought of fame” – Henry W. Longfellow Before you can set the wheels in motion to save money, pay down your debt, plan for a hassle-free early retirement, you must delve into the very basis of what makes you tick, what makes you unique. You must understand what you ultimately have to do to be successful – in finance, business and personal life. You must comprehend that people are not born into failure. The majority of individuals are endowed with all the tools needed to achieve success. It matters not if one is born into mansion or log cabin. The ability to achieve personal success in all endeavours, including financial independence and self worth, is locked into one’s psyche at birth. What is needed are keys to unlock potential and opportunity. People must learn to recognize the keys. Steadily and conscientiously you can change your life from one of existing from pay-to-pay, one of worrying relentlessly, to one of financial security and well-being. You must understand that everyone has emotional baggage that hampers their progress. You begin to collect this baggage at birth and the load gets heavier as the years roll by. That baggage causes you to falter, to show insecurity, to hesitate. You can shed your baggage, leave it on some obscure platform with no return address or you can carry it on your back forever. “I was born unlucky” - “I was born not to succeed” is not a valid excuse as the world embraces the 21^st century. Opportunity asks little of you but recognition, imagination and hard work. Everyone is born the child of opportunity. Opportunity recognizes neither poverty nor wealth. It lives quietly, waiting for the chance to knock. It expects you to answer the door and to know what to do when it presents itself. The path to financial security, personal freedom and well-being is steeper today than ever before. Although this path presents a challenge, it is not impossible to climb. Certainly, there are boulders and blind spots that you must conquer. But, there are also well defined steps and rare opportunities that give extra leverage – keys - to those who know how to recognize and use them. To succeed you must secure ground, hold fast and push hard. You must begin with small steps through rough ground and over high hurdles. Some people refuse to expand their horizons and potential through opportunity. They never climb that path, or answer the door. They wait furtively for their money train to arrive, praying that it will pull into their station with the next lottery ticket purchased. They are convinced that financial security will be found at the end of a rainbow, with the scratch of a ticket, at the bottom of a money pit. They don’t realize that there are very few quick routes to finding wealth and well-being. Before you begin your journey, remember that wealth does not bring automatic happiness. Both are companions to success. When talking about success Lady Mary Wortley Montague said. “Be alive. Be patient, Work Hard. Watch opportunities. Be rigidly honest. Hope for the best. You don’t know what you are capable of achieving until you really try. Financial security and happiness are within your grasp. Success does not automatically mean being placed at the top of the heap. Success is, as Longfellow states, doing something well, without a thought to fame. When something is done well, self-respect and self-worth follow. Self-respect and self-worth lead to security in all things. It is easy to blame others for your failure to achieve. It is hard for some to take control, to take the first steps. No matter how long the road, map your own destiny my friends. Miles fall away as confidence in oneself comes to the fore. Give yourself the respect of saying “I tried and I succeeded.” Control circumstances by steering them in positive and fruitful directions. Gird yourself with ten weapons for success. They are easily memorized. You must recognize that possessing is not a sign of security; that the acquisition of things does not result in a satisfactory end result; that you can live with less. Possessions do not make the man You must be willing to give up a little to achieve a lot. You must be comfortable in your skin. You are an individual with your own set of circumstances, strengths and weaknesses. Your opportunities will be unique unto yourself. You must be conscientious and honest about saving money, even if it begins with nickels and dimes. You must believe in your ability to succeed, not matter the circumstances under which you presently live. You must always be focused on the future you have mapped for yourself. Never expect a pot of gold at the end of the path. Always keep your eye on the next hill, the next challenge. You must be willing to roll with the punches, to make the best of often disguised opportunities. You must be alert to recognizing opportunities and potential in seemingly benign situations. You must persuade all those around you that they too can achieve financial security, success, well being, happiness and security by following your lead.

The New Year – Hopes So Sweet

admin — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:19:35 +0000

To those with confidence,
And hopes so sweet;
The future is a challenge,
Laid at your feet.

Look to a horizon,
To collect success complete;
Where heart, mind and soul,
Have hopes so sweet

For your mind and your soul,
The journey is not far;
For they have the wings,
To reach any star.

But our heart
Must depend on our feet;
And talent – and confidence,
That don’t always meet.

There is a journey,
Called life complete;
Needing talent and confidence,
And willing feet.

There is a horizon,
With dreams complete;
That every heart longs,
For hopes so sweet.

A Pioneer’s Home-Longings

admin — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:18:56 +0000

I hae a good life in this land.
There’s flame on the hearth,
An’ meat in the pan,
A roof o’erhead
And bairns tae love.

Yet -
My heart’s awa’
Tae the Highlands awa’

I hae land for the tilling,
An’ cattle in the byre
I hae wood for my fire,
And clan-folk near.

Yet -
My heart’s awa’
Tae the Highlands awa’

There are deer on the meadow.
An’ bear in the hills.
There are sheep in the pasture,
And wheat in the fields.

Yet -
My heart’s awa’
Tae the Highlands awa’

I hae not the heather on far reaching hills.
I hear not the pipes in the glen.
I see not fast waters flow from
highlands to loch.
I feel not the fire in the auld hame ingle.

Aye -
My heart’s awa’
Tae the Highlands awa’
And e’er it shall be
This new, wild land called Canada
will ne’er capture me.