I am thrilled to report that Diving for Pearls: A Thinking Journey with Hannah Arendt, has been chosen by the reviewers at Red City Review as a finalist in its first annual book award contest. I received an email from them this morning, announcing the finalists. Winners in each category, and the grand prize winner, will be announced on December 1st. I almost didn’t open the link included in the email. It was one of those days where trying to keep myself focused on several things at once, coupled with (I admit it), the unbearable weight of several recent disappointments, made me hesitate for several minutes before clicking onto the web site. I couldn’t resist shouting as I scrolled to the list of finalists in memoirs—there was Diving for Pearls!!
Two weeks ago, in San Diego, I gave a talk as the September guest speaker to the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild Meeting about my journey as a writer and independent publisher. “You have to keep writing, keep marketing, keep getting your book into public view. And, stay clear about your vision for your book!” In my talk, I offered a number of pointers, including finding sites to have your book receive a literary review, and those that might be having awards contests. Red City Review was one of the places I recommended. What a delight to be able to see my book listed as a finalist.
My upcoming trip to Sweden is around the corner and I am trying to keep track of at least three different strands of thinking in my head:
About the two academic papers I am completing, one for a workshop on “Love Studies” in the Collegium of GEXcel, which is “a collaboration that brings together the Centre for Gender Studies (CGF) at Karlstad University, Tema Genus at Linköping University and the Centre for Feminist Social Studies at Örebro University., and another for a presentation on my research on Hannah Arendt, co-sponsored by the GEXcel and the Centre for Feminist Social Studies (That track clearly has two byways!).
About marketing my new book, Diving for Pearls: A Thinking Journey with Hannah Arendt, including getting the word out via reviews, submissions to book competitions, and other venues.
About organizing my files and clothes for the trip, which on the way back will include two more lectures on Diving for Pearls, one at Union College, Schnectady, New York on Nov. 3, and the other at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut on Nov. 4.
Today’s news was a welcome boost of spirits and energized me to get on with the remaining tasks, while looking forward to seeing my friends and colleagues in the gorgeous fall colors that will surely be gracing of Sweden in mid-October and likely still be on display on the east coast a few weeks later.
My good friend, Anna Jonasdottir and I, sharing a laugh.