I have titled this post to remind myself
of how often I take all I have been given for granted.
Although I was taught from an early age
to give thanks and express gratitude, too frequently I forget to do so.
Although I’m probably not entirely alone in this neglect, I know myself well
enough to confess my fault and in some way to atone.
I am thankful for so many opportunities,
I’ll begin by expressing my gratitude for the many years I have been able to
work with the writers of Classic & Cozy Books — a gracious and generous
community whose writing and supportive comments on others’ efforts I hope will
be sustained for as long as they wish.
My first post for C&C was on
February 25, 2014 and titled “Classic, Cozy and Cunning,” an introduction to my “novel by installments,” Nights Before: The Novel, a six-novella series that began with ‘Twas the Night Before New Year. The opening paragraph
reads:
We've all read books set in different countries, regions, time
periods with characters from various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. The
attempt to capture the sound of speech and cultural nuances is all part of the
craft of setting a sense of time and place.
Because
this will be my parting post for the foreseeable future, I also want to express
my gratitude to Avalon Books, Lia Brown and especially Avalon Authors who
together helped my writing dreams flourish, sustaining me though many years of
traditional and independent publishing.
Many of the writers at Avalon continue as
good friends, supporters and listeners.
I
have made efforts to repay them, in my way, on my personal author’s blogs by
featuring books and promoting their posts through social media — a development
in communication channels that has opened a wide vista for writers that
American entrepreneurs have embraced and taken to the moon in a way that could
only be achieved in an atmosphere of freedom, an atmosphere that not only
allows but encourages the freedom to try, to fail and to try again.
As
one of my friends in Wales once told me, “If you can’t make it in American, you
can’t make it anywhere.” He was right and I am most thankful that I came home.
With
warmest, fondest best wishes to my fellow writers here at Classic & Cozy
Books, it is time for me to embrace the hard work of doing my job.
Leigh
Verrill-Rhys, Novelist
A beautiful post. I, too, thank the ladies from Avalon for their friendship over the years and the editors there for giving us the opportunity to begin our careers. I'll miss you on this blog. Please stay in touch. Good luck with your future endeavors.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Fran. I sincerely appreciate your support.
DeleteYou are right, Leigh, that all too often we forget to express our thanks. Like you, I'm thankful for the support and encouragement I've been given by this group. You certainly have helped lift my morale when I've been dragged down by self-doubt. Thanks - to you and all my fellow Classic and Cozy friends.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome, Sandy. I will keep an eye out for your new book and your blog posts.
ReplyDeleteLeigh, we will miss you!
ReplyDelete