25 Authors and What They're Thankful For
25 Authors and What They're Thankful For 2022
I want to note that I do not get paid to do these posts, I just love authors and the book industry. However, they do take time and energy to create. If you want to donate a few dollars to my coffee fund, which keeps this blog going, you can do so here: https://venmo.com/AshleyHasty or here: http://paypal.me/hastybooklist..
Paulette Stout
I’m so unbelievably grateful for the amazing community of authors who have been such a positive force in my creative life. Writing is a lonely endeavor full of doubt, do-overs, and negative self-talk. We sit—usually alone—staring at a blinking cursor, praying magic happens. But magic happens because of hard work and good decisions. That’s why it’s such a comfort to get such caring guidance and support from people who truly understand the writer’s journey. They know what it’s like to create. The understand the struggle of producing and selling books. Having these strong women support my work makes me bubble over with gratitude. I do what I can to support their work, in turn, but I always want them to know how much I appreciate them and am thankful for their support.
Lisa Braxton
I am thankful that in the midst of the pandemic I was able to get a new job. In early 2020, my position was eliminated at the organization where I'd worked for 16 years. I was out of work for a year and so was my husband. It was tough. But I got hired in 2021 at a nonprofit and enjoy my work in public affairs. I'm only required to come into the office once a week and the rest of the time I work virtually. I now have the flexibility to walk my dog Regina (a very affectionate and loving Pembroke Welsh corgi) during the day and have additional time to work on my second novel.
Liz Alterman
I’m incredibly grateful for the wonderful writing community—from fellow authors to reviewers and everyone who has helped spread the word about my novel. Writing can feel like such a lonely endeavor but the kindness I’ve experienced has made me feel so supported and excited to see what the future holds!
Fran Hawthorne
The first answer, of course, has to be that I'm deeply grateful that everyone in my closest circle of friends and loved ones is healthy (at least, at this moment), and that even in the circles beyond, only two people are seriously ill with something not related to old age. And I guess I'm selfish enough to say that next, I'm thankful and thrilled that my second novel, "I Meant to Tell You," has just been published. I'm thankful that our planet is still, somehow, surviving and that more people are taking climate change seriously. I'm thankful for the people who seem to like me, regardless of my faults. I'll stop with this last thought: I'm so, so grateful that I have too much to be grateful for, to fit into a short space.
Jen Craven
I am thankful for the writing community, whether that's beta readers, critique partners, or fellow authors who continually take time to support and celebrate one another. What a wonderful "club" to be part of!
Christie Leigh Babirad
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays next to Christmas and Valentine’s Day. I relish the spirit and seasonal colors of this time. Thanksgiving is all about gathering together with family and loved ones, indulging in delicious food as the crimson and orange leaves fall from the trees outside. Then, Santa Claus comes riding in on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, heralding more holiday joy and festivities to come sweeping in throughout the following month. This holiday is the most wonderful beginning.
This year, I am more thankful than ever before. I believe one of the benefits of getting older (I enter my new year shortly after Thanksgiving) is that your attention is taken more and more to the moments of pure sweetness, happiness and gratitude for the amazing blessings you have, right here, right now.
So, without further ado- Thanksgiving 2022, I am thankful for….
1. My family. I feel so incredibly lucky to have such a creative, open to life’s possibilities and wonders kind of family. My grandparents, who lived through the Great Depression and everyday life and health struggles, left an indelible impression on me with the every day smiles I still remember despite them having passed away over twenty years ago. I remember the summer trips they took us on and the love they freely gave us despite how they were probably feeling because of their health. They were truly inspiring, and I still feel them with me in everything I do. My mom, she’s pure sunshine and magical life-filled spirit. My brother— he’s dynamic, creative, brilliant, and the one I can talk to about so many different things. He’s also my most favorite person to travel with. My Jack Russell Terriers— Holly (In Heaven) with her sassy personality, and My Alistair with me who adds such joy, energy, and humor to every single day. It’s said that some people really do have a type of pet that they stick with. I am definitely an incredibly proud Jack Russell Girl. Each Jack is unique, but each one is always filled with such energy and personality. And then, there’s my father. I admire his resilience and creative ability. I feel so very blessed with the family I have, including my creative cousins.
2. My art and sensitive heart— the books I have, the books I’m writing currently, and the ability to feel life deeply and turn these feelings into art that is hopefully enjoyed by others, and hopefully inspires all who read these books of mine.
3. The serendipity and endless possibilities in this life. I am thankful that life is filled with extraordinary beauty that gets your heart racing. I am thankful for the sweet surprises of life. I love that romance and deep connections come unexpectedly and are often beyond what you imagined. I am thankful for all the people who have entered my life, whether for a chapter or more, whether it was bitter, sweet, or in between. I don’t believe in the term self-made. I am an amalgamation of all of the people who have crossed my path and left an imprint on my heart, helping me better understand who I am and what I stand for. And, I am thankful that you can start something exhilaratingly new at any time and at any age.
Alyanna Poe
I'm thankful for my parents this year and every year. I don't have extended family or siblings that I'm close with, so it's just the three of us and has been that way since I was a baby. They've been so supportive of my writing career, and I can't thank them enough. Both of them have taught me so much, from working on cars and welding to cooking to using a computer to pouring and finishing concrete. They've shaped me into a well rounded person that's confident in my abilities, and they've always had my back. When I wanted to leave high school because I was bullied so much, my mom found me a homeschool and enrolled me as soon as possible. She found out about the California High School Proficiency Exam, and they paid for me to take the test, allowing me to graduate at sixteen. When I was diagnosed with Graves' disease and bed ridden for months, the only people there were my parents. They've proven time and time again that they'll always be there for me. So this year, every year, and every day I'm thankful for my parents.
Suzette D. Harrison
My household has been truly blessed. Hubby was promoted not once, but twice! Both children finished their first year of university studies, and I published my twelfth book. Both my mother and mother-in-law celebrated their 80th birthdays, and my firstborn nephew got married. I'm thankful for all of these and so many other blessings.
Feyisayo Anjorin
Im thankful for good health, peace in my country, and my ability and capacity as a storyteller. I have these creative dreams; I have vivid pictures of these worlds I could bring alive. In a few instances Ive had the platform, in a few instances Ive been able to create the platform. Im thankful for the voice.
Im thankful for my wife, Janet, I love her so much; and my children, their smiles, the simplicity of their faith, and tantrums and all the colourful mess
Katey Schultz
I am thankful to be alive, in community, and have the safety and freedom to raise a family without fearing for our lives or overall well-being. I am thankful to live in a place where art is valued and the imagination is celebrated. I am thankful for self-awareness, which helps me grow into more compassion and less fear, as each day passes.
Joyana Peters
I took a huge risk in quitting my job to write full time. In the past year, I've self-published two books, won a few writing awards, launched a self-publishing coaching business and found an AMAZING community of supportive readers. It has truly been a dream come true! I'm beyond grateful I took this leap of faith and I can't wait to see what comes next!
Jeffrey D. Boldt
I'm most thankful for my daughters, Allie and Anna. This will be our tenth Thanksgiving since losing their mother. I know how proud their mom would be of both of them because I'm that proud, too. We've stayed close as a family of three who know how precious life is and cherish our time together including at holidays. Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!
Georgie Blalock
I'm thankful for all my wonderful readers who allow me to share my love of history and fascinating historical women with them. Thank you all so very much. I am truly grateful for you.
Tamatha Cain
Beside my debut novel coming out in August, I am most thankful for my family.
Jessica Stilling
It All Comes Back: Finding Gratitude in an Uncertain World
Jessica Stilling
What Are You Thankful For?
When I think about this question, what are you thankful for, a few things come to mind. I remember Virginia Woolf saying that in order to write (or practice any creative outlet) a woman needs her own income and a room of her own. She needs time and money and that’s true for everyone. And as I study the history of marginalized people in America, as I take DEI focused workshops and see more clearly all that many groups of people go through, I am grateful for the financial cushion I posses and my own space in which to write.
I am by no means wealthy. I work two jobs, a day job at an office and I teach writing classes at night. I also pick up the odd article or freelance editing gig. But I am able to take time off when I need to write. I work at a job that does not stress me out so much that there is nothing left of me at the end of the day. I can write in the morning; I can write at night. I can spend all weekend in front of my computer working on a novel or short story and that is a blessing in its own right.
I’m also lucky enough to have a few creature comforts and one of my main sources of inspiration is travel. The idea for my latest novel, Between Before and After, came to me at Charles De Gaulle airport outside of Paris. I had just spent a week in that lovely city, and as I was getting on the plane I missed it dearly. The longing for a certain city and the nostalgia that a certain place can bring, were great inspirations for my work and I would not have been able to write this book, I would not even have conceived it, if I were not lucky enough to be able to travel.
I am also grateful for the people in my life. So many characters and storylines are inspired by the people I know. I’m grateful to my children, who I love fiercely, my publisher, for his unwavering support of my work, and my friends and colleagues who genuinely care about my writing.
Many of those aspects of my life were put on hold, or took a step back, during the pandemic. As everyone worked from home and my children began Zoom school, I did not have the same time or the same space that I was used to. Money was tight for a while as I moved to a new city and had to find a new job. And of course, no one really traveled for two years during the pandemic, myself included. But having temporarily lost those things, has made the return to normal (or at least quasi-normal) all the sweeter. Being able to stretch out once again, being able to see friends and family who I haven’t seen in the flesh in years, finding stability and planning trips to once again explore the world, are all added bonuses to life now.
As I remember all that I have to be grateful for, I remember just how quickly it can be taken away and that helps me focus on the good, which makes me in turn a better and more mindful writer.
Dianne C. Braley
I am thankful for so much. I know everyone says that, as it wouldn't be right not to say that, but I have had some years where I wasn't thankful for much and grumbled my way through this question, but I am happy to say this year is not one of them. At the same time, I am always grateful for the things that matter most such as my health, home, shelter, family, etc. This year I'm incredibly thankful for some motivational people, music, podcasts, communities, books, and the people that created these. Their words, whether in person or not, have helped me achieve my goal of writing my first novel while also experiencing the good, bad and ugly in it all in real-time, not just in the way of going through the motions and then looking back and reflecting. Some parts of my life have come full circle, and through being a nurse and writing, I have been able to create and even celebrate the darkest areas of my life and put closure to some areas while giving back to a cause that, at one time, nearly destroyed me through my novel, The Silence in the Sound.
Maggie Smith
This year I'm grateful for all the readers who supported my debut novel, Truth and Other Lies, when it came out in March. Whether it was through social media posts, book reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, purchases in independent bookstores, or having me on their podcasts, I'm so appreciative of the love and support I got from readers across the country. There are thousands of new books released each year, so I'm humbled that so many book lovers have embraced my first novel and its message.
Gloria Mattioni
I am immensely grateful for having found the strength and persistence to complete my novel, a nine-year work in progress, and brought it to publication within te same year. I could have never done it without the unconditional support of my family and friends. But I'm also thankful for the tight relationship I enjoy with my adult son and his beautiful daughter, a 13- year old who lost her mother to brain cancer when she was only 19-months old and I have raised as my own. The fact that she considers me her "safe place" and confidant is priceless. And my rescue dog, a skittish, badly abused pup when we adopted, turned 10 years and is still going strong, and I pray every day that he can enjoy more years of snuggles and happiness with us. He gave us all so much affection and hope showing us that trust can be learned again, even by victims of neglect, mistreatment and abuse. Last but not least, I'm grateful for te new friendships I've found in the authors' community, a place where mutual support is stronger than jealousy and generosity is a common tract.
Heather Mateus Sappenfield
Two books out in two years, and I’m filled with thanks for their marvelous success. The audio version of my adult story collection Lyrics for Rock Stars won a SOVAS AWARD, an Earphones Award, and was a finalist for the Audies—bravo, narrator Michael Crouch! My middle grade novel, The River Between Hearts, has brought me into many schools, is a current finalist for the Children’s Book Council’s Noteworthy Books List, and, best of all, received a letter from the Colorado General Assembly, praising the work it’s doing! I’m filled with gratitude for my fine publishers, V Press LC and Fitzroy Books/Regal House Press, and for places to like The Hasty Book List, which help connect readers with books!
Carol Van Den Hende
Our family's hearts have grown by two's...with a pair of ginger kittens; my sophomore novel in the world, ORCHID BLOOMING; and our college-aged twins home for the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate: readers, literary friends and families everywhere! 🌺
Lisa Williamson Rosenberg
I am thankful for love, friends, family and hope. It has been a bittersweet, challenging year. My dream of getting my debut novel published came true ... as did the unimaginable nightmare of my oldest being diagnosed with a rare sarcoma. Living with these realities, I am over-the-moon thankful for my beautiful daughter's chutzpah and resilience, as well as the enormous swell of support and love we have had from family and friends.
Jumata Emill
Besides the building anticipation for the release of my debut novel, I'm most thankful that this year felt like the first "normal" year we've had after two long years of the pandemic. And while yes we are not completely out of it, this year I got to reunite with a lot of family and friends and truly feel a sense of community and fellowship that I really need to replenish my soul.
Julee Balko
There’s a line in my novel, The Things We Keep that says, Holidays do not let you hide from grief. The loss sits with you at the table. As I go to spend another holiday with empty chairs, I am thankful for both the chairs that are empty. These chairs remind me that life is not a given and that I should embrace today. They remind me that even when your loved ones are no longer here, their love and memories still sit with you. I’m also very thankful for the chairs that are filled. For my children who share my affinity for mashed potatoes. And my husband who encourages me to make extra.
Janis Robinson Daly
The incredible support I found from other women as I launched my debut novel, The Unlocked Path, this August.
To progress my manuscript on to a publishing contract, I knew connections would be critical to my success. But where would I find those connections? Networks of other women, knowing many have heeded the statement made by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright that “there is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”
First stop: Wheaton College. From interviewing pre-med students for character development research, to emailing alumnae who were published historical fiction authors for guidance, to finding a copy editor, to tapping classmates for pre-launch marketing assistance. Each woman I contacted validated the first of the ten keys in UNLOCKED: “What is the simplest thing we can do to help a fellow sister? ‘Just say yes’”.
Second stop. Female-centric associations. I’ve found incredible support from two women’s groups as I wrote, pitched, and sought endorsements of my writing. The Women’s Fiction Writers Association offers a slew of workshops, mentors, writing groups, and other resources. Not only do they focus on developing the women’s fiction genre, but with most of their membership comprised of women writers, the opportunities to network are boundless. I’ve joined a sub-group of historical fiction writers where we share ideas, marketing successes and failures, expertise, blurbs, and ARC reviews. I try to coordinate my work schedule to Zoom with these women every Tuesday at 1pm EST, filling my notebooks with tips.
As I neared the end of manuscript polishing, I felt compelled to connect with one more group: women in medicine. With no background in medicine and barely passing my Bio101 college class, doubts crept in that my novel wouldn’t be authentic to a woman doctor’s experience. Taking a page from a woman boss in sales, who advised to swing for the fences when facing a difficult prospect, I stepped up to bat and swung. I emailed Eliza Lo Chin, M.D., Executive Director of the American Women’s Medical Association, and asked if she would read my manuscript. Two weeks later, she replied with a “YES”. Her endorsement means the world to me: “A story of resilience, empowerment, and coming of age. Eliza’s journey and discovery of ‘the why’ echoes a story that we all carry in our hearts. Great historical fiction is timeless.”
As my main character Eliza Edwards sits at her graduation luncheon in 1901, she reflects upon her four years at the Woman’s Medical College: Today they celebrated their futures. They would not be bound by constraints of tradition but directed forward with joy in their hearts and the bonds of sisterhood. Forevermore, they would champion each other with a sense of connectedness and commitment. The success of one was the success of all.
Kathleen Basi
I am thankful for continuing to grow as a human being and an author. I am thankful to realize that all things come in their proper time, including publication. I realized this year that if I had fulfilled my dream ten or fifteen years ago, when I first thought I deserved it, I would not have been successful. I did not have the perspective then to say the things that most need to be said. I did not have the maturity then to roll with the punches. I did not have the network then to help me launch successfully. When I look at my life in the past year (or few years), I feel overwhelmed by the busy-ness of having 4 kids, 3 of them teenagers, one with Down syndrome. But also, I recognize daily how incredibly, profoundly rich is this life I have been given!
