Saving Jemma is a book, written by my friend, Pamela Lowey. It is her first published novel and it’s a great story. It is available on Amazon, Borders, and Kindle. As soon as it was out, I got it on my Kindle. I was enjoying it so much, halfway through I had to stop and email her to tell how awesome her writing was. If you are a fan of Kristin Hannah and/or Elin Hildebrand, you will love Pam’s book.
Now I’m not only blogging about Pam’s book tonight because I loved it so much, I am also telling you about it because Pam is an inspiration to me as both a friend and a writer. She has courage. Now you might think that is a funny word to use to describe a writer. After all, what’s so scary about pencil and paper? Tonight renown author Anne LeClaire spoke at our Cape Cod writers Halloween get together. She began by asking if there was anyone in the room that was never afraid or fearful of anything in their life. Of course, no one raised their hand. Fear is every author’s nemesis. Fear of rejection. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of ridicule. Fear of even taking that big step and actually beginning to write something. She once heard a college professor instructing her writing students about overcoming fear. When asked to present their work, the voices started. I’m nervous. This is a really rough copy. This needs alot of work. She told them to stop. She told them whenever she hears the voices of fear starting in her head, she imagines a Mason jar. She puts the voices in it, screws the top on tight, and let’s those voices of fear screech and scratch inside the jar where she can’t hear them. She told her students to put their voices in such a jar and just get up there and present their work. Anne herself told of her fear of a bad review – then she got one. She said she did the whole curl up in bed, suck my thumb, and I’m never gonna write again thing – then she sat up, said “Fuck you!” and moved on. She left us with the message that we can’t take the criticisms, rejections, and ridicules personally. We, new and experienced writers alike, have to exercise our courage and stand up to our fears, put them in the Mason jar and screw that lid on tight.
And that is why I write tonight about my friend Pam. First, she had the courage to believe she COULD write. Then she had the nerve to actually sit down and begin writing. Finally, and this is the big one, she had the courage to put her writing out there.
I applaud you, Pam. You are an inspiration to me, a hero. I’m happy for you that your book got published, and I’m happy for me, because I got a great read. Hope they’ll be more where that came from.
As another day goes by, fears go in the jar, a new author is born, and thanks to courageous inspiration like Pam’s…..once again, I have written.
PS- Get Saving Jemma by Pamela Loewy
Leave a Reply