Monthly Archives: November 2011

Going Grey Caused Me a Problem: Did I Do the Right Thing?

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Shirley Hershey Showalter

I like to think that I’m not vain about my looks. My make-up case is a sandwich bag, and I use its contents rarely. For my lips my favorite brand is Chapstick. But fifteen years ago, I did dye my … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir-in-Progress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 45 Comments

Chinaberry Sidewalks: Another Excellent Crazy Childhood Memoir by Rodney Crowell

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Shirley Hershey Showalter

Welcome new guest blogger, Richard Potter. Below you can learn more about him and more about an excellent memoir from singer/song writer Rodney Crowell. If you love memoirists Mary Karr, Rosanne Cash, and Jeanette Walls, you will love this one … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrity Memoir, Guest blogger | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Marla Likes It! A Query Critique Lesson

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Shirley Hershey Showalter

Remember the old Life cereal commercial? “Mikey likes it!”? Here it is again. If Mikey likes it, it’s got to be good. Well, in memoir query critique, if Marla Miller likes it, the same is true. She’s a tough critic, … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Terry Helwig: One Author’s Adventures in Social Media Book Marketing

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Shirley Hershey Showalter

True or False: Marketing a book is a grueling chore. You already know this is a trick question, don’t you? The answer? True for some. False for others. Some people love to meet other people and share stories with them. … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Shirley Kurtz on the Difference Between Writing Memoir and Fiction

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Shirley Hershey Showalter

Welcome today to Shirley Kurtz, another memoirist and Mennonite. Shirley and I graduated from Eastern Mennonite College (now university) and both of us have used our English majors as writers all our lives. Shirley, however, began writing books long ago and has … Continue reading →

Posted in Anabaptist Memoir, Guest blogger | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Left Brain/Right Brain TED Talk–Resolving Opposites

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Shirley Hershey Showalter

My friend Susan posted a TED talk on facebook recently (see below) that has helped me think about one of the more perplexing themes of my memoir: how opposites attract, fight,resolve, and need each other. Here’s a set of my … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir-in-Progress | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Janet Oberholtzer: Because I Can

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Shirley Hershey Showalter

Janet Oberholtzer and I have a lot in common. We both grew up Mennonite in Pennsylvania. We are both living lives we never imagined as children. Janet’s story, as you can see from her memoir book jacket, describes her miraculous … Continue reading →

Posted in Anabaptist Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

The Accidental Memoirist: How a Writer’s Rare Disease Became the Catalyst to “Overnight” Literary Success

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Shirley Hershey Showalter

I am thrilled to share with you a lovely essay written by Jon Reiner, whose new memoir describes what it is like to live with the medical command NBM, nothing by mouth — no food, no drink. For three months. If you … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest blogger | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments