Literary Grant, Writers resources

Literary grant: free money

5 Comments

money

 

In 2013 the local art council of the county was offering a literary grant. You could ask up to $2500. The point of the grant was to fund projects that would help us progress to the next level of our career. I was fortunate to be one of seven applicants to get awarded.

The rule is you can’t apply two years in a row if you win. That was okay for last year the grant was not strictly literary but all art. However this year they are funding another literary grant and I am debating trying for it or not. Time is not on my side and I hate to do a hap hazard job of it and then not stand a shot of getting my grant application approved.

I have written up half of what is required so far but the deadline is next month and time is going by fast for me to get it all done. So I am flip-flopping on this issue. It’s free money to spend on what I need. It is worth a shot even if I don’t win, right? I am trying to figure out what to legitimately ask for, quote the prices and keep working on this applicant and see where it falls. For as my motto has been for the last few years when it comes to my writing has not changed, “All they can say is no.

Jasper Rainforest Friends and Family, Promotional sale, Sharon C. Williams

Promotional time: Jasper Rainforest Friends and Family

1 Comment

Presale Promo Image Jasper book 2 (1)

 

I learned from my publisher that Jasper: Rainforest Friends and Family, which is volume two of my Jasper series, is being released in early October. WOOHOO!!!

So for a small time there is a promotional gig going on. There will be a discount price on not only the new book but also the first volume so anyone can catch up before October and be ready for the second one. I’m very excited and can’t wait to be able to hold and see the new book in my grubby little hands. Also volume one was just recently nominated for a book club award. A great time to see what is between the pages of it.

nominee-award-august15 (2)(1)

Volume three has been written and it is gong through my writer’s groups for critiquing. Which everyone knows is rough as heck to put one out there like that to the public. But I get to do another round of promotions, signings and hanging out with fans for this soon to be released book.

Writing can be as wonderful as you dream it to be. One just has to put in the time.

ALS support group, Giving back, speech on the benefits of pet therapy

My speech to an ALS support group

Leave a comment

2013-09-30 13.43.03

This past Tuesday I did a speech on Pet Therapy to a local ALS group. I had been practicing for weeks as I gathered information to convey to the pals and cals which are patients of ALS and caregiver of ALS. I did draw from experiences as a patient, as a caregiver and having animals in the home who have helped me so much since I first became sick so many years ago.

The group was small and very laid back. It helped that the coordinator of the group is a good friend of mine so she was there to help prompt the members to ask questions as she did herself. But than something interesting happen. She told me that they are very quiet and might not interact. Boy was she wrong. They asked questions, they talked about their experiences and helped move the meeting along. The group consisted of patients, caretakers and a health professional. This is the feedback I received.

Peggy: “Joanna, did you bring Sharon here to just talk to me? She gets what I am going through.”

Ken-health pro-“You did a wonderful job. Very informative.”

Margie-“Could you come back and speak to us again?”

Plus multiple hugs from the ladies.

Before I knew it I was being told I just had five minutes left to wrap it up. I was floored how fast it went. Every bit counts, as far as I am concern, regardless of the size of the group, size of the presentation and the overall reactions I receive. But more importantly it was nice to give back to the community , in a small way, and that for me personally made it worth the work and time it took to do this.

The Musings of A New Englander