NEWSLETTER: OCTOBER 2024 / October 24, 2024 by Lynne Heinzmann

Last week as Chris and I drove up the Massachusetts Turnpike on our way to the Big E (the Eastern States Exposition) in Springfield, we enjoyed the beautiful colors of the leaves as they began their cycle into fall and winter. The yellows, browns, and oranges were lovely, but the reds really caught my eye and put me in the mood for spiced apple cider and warm wooly sweaters. I believe there is something truly magical about autumn in New England.

Stormy weather prevented me from attending the Exeter Fall Festival I mentioned in last month’s newsletter but I did spend a fun-filled day selling books at the Big E. So this month, I will share some photos of the Big E, tell you about two upcoming events—one book event and one music event, and then include the rest of the short story I started last month, “Flash Mob Ballet.” I’ll begin by saying…

THE BIG E

Eastern States Exposition

West Springfield, MA

September 13 to 29, 2024

A big shout out of thanks to fellow author PK Norton for kindly sharing her booth at the Big E with me. We had a wonderful time selling books and chatting with customers on Thursday, September 26, 2024, and thoroughly enjoyed a full day of people-watching.

Paula Norton is the author of the Amy Lynch Investigations Book Series, which Paula describes as “Nancy Drew for grown-ups.” Check them out on Amazon,com.

Chris and I returned to the Big E the next day as tourists and had a blast walking around, seeing the sights, tasting the treats, and going to a Draft Horse Show with gigantic horses being expertly guided through balletic maneuvers with huge wagons. We were very impressed!

If you’ve never been to the Big E, consider attending next year. It’s a lot of fun!

*Chris with a Giant Stuffie in the Rhode Island Pavilion*

SCITUATE ART FESTIVAL

On the Village Green

North Scituate, RI

Sunday, October 13, 2024

10 AM to 5 PM

Come celebrate the fall season by visiting me at the Village Green in North Scituate on Sunday, October 13, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Browse and buy original fine art, handmade crafts, antiques, and books in an open-air market. Enjoy tasty treats and support local, non-profit organizations by visiting the food court. I will be there selling books and stained glass ornaments so stop by for a visit!

THE FALLOUT SHELTER

61 Endicott Street

Norwood, MA

Friday, November 1, 2024

7:00 PM

Chris and his new band, Black Cat Crossing, are having a major gig at the Fallout Shelter in Norwood, MA, on Friday, November 1, at 7 PM. Come on out to see Chris (fiddle) with Steve Healy (vocals & guitar), Kathy O’Connell (vocals & banjo), Ted Mellow (vocals & bass), and Brian Sargent (vocals & mandolin) as they play some original tunes and some bluegrass favorites. The tickets are $30 apiece and are expected to sell out, so make sure to buy yours now by clicking HERE. See you there!

That’s all the news for this month. And now, here’s the end of “Flash Mob Ballet,” a short story I wrote about an older woman who still loves to dance—like me! I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for reading!

Lynne

FLASH MOB BALLET

by Lynne Heinzmann

(Continued from last month)

“Great.” I caught Fred’s collar and scooped him into my arms. “Now look at what you made me do.” I tucked him safely outside the studio, shut the doors, and limped over to the fallen picture, broom and dustpan in hand. Carefully lifting the photo from the bits of glass, I saw it was an image of me as a sixteen-year-old dancing in my first lead role as Cinderella. The photographer, my older brother Phil, had captured such a look of joy on my face that it made me smile even now. “Sure makes it easy to see why I stuck with ballet for so long.” I placed the picture frame on the windowsill and slowly swept the floor, starting with the broken glass but then expanding outward to sweep the whole dusty room. With thoughts of Cinderella still in my head, I awkwardly attempted some of the steps I’d danced while wielding a broom in that role, amazed that I could still remember them forty years later.

As I slid the dust and glass into the trashcan, I recalled that sixteen-year-old-me hadn’t known for sure if she would be dancing the role of Cinderella until the day before the show. Three weeks prior, I’d fallen down a flight of stairs and had severely sprained my ankle. Our ballet company director—the one who’d made the snarky knitting comment—had told my understudy that she’d probably be performing the lead role in my place. But there was no way I was going to let that happen. Even before the doctor gave me the green light to dance again after my injury, I had strapped on my pointe shoes and rehearsed my part, first alone, and then with Andrew, the boy cast as Prince Charming. I’d had to bribe him with a Pizza Hut gift certificate to get him to practice with me after hours, but it’d been worth it. Standing on that stage as Cinderella on opening night, receiving the applause of the audience, I’d felt happier than I’d ever been in my young life. That night—the night Phil took that photo—I had first realized that performing ballet on stage gave me my ultimate high. Gracefully moving my body to the music allowed me to soar through space and time, completely weightless and unencumbered by any worldly cares. For hours on end, I escaped my physicality and became ethereal—dance incarnate.

Four decades later, I hobbled over to the stereo table and placed the damaged photo next to my phone. Fred scratched to be readmitted so I flung the doors open once again and announced, “I’m just going to see what I can do.” Then I grabbed a yoga mat and practiced some more ballet warm-up exercises while seated in a patch of sunlight on the studio floor with Fred climbing over me and nipping at my leather slippers. It wasn’t much of a workout, but it was a start.

* * *

On February 1st, I wasn’t surprised to see Chris seated at the mall food court, since he often went there on his lunchbreak from his job in a nearby office building. He was, however, shocked to see me and was even more so when two dozen other women and I took off our winter coats, strapped on ballet slippers, and forcibly occupied a large area of floorspace near the escalators. We were dressed alike in the standard ballet teacher’s uniform of a black, long-sleeved leotard, black chiffon skirt, and pink tights, with our hair pulled tightly into firm buns.

Precisely at the stroke of noon, the jazzy tones of Fame’s “Hot Lunch” blared from our cellphones as we performed Theresa’s original choreography in unison. For two minutes and thirteen seconds, we glissaded, developpéd, and entertained the Providence Place Mall lunch crowd in honor of National Ballet Teachers’ Day. As the last bars of music streamed from our phones, I struck the final pose with a huge smile on my face and tears in my eyes. Afterward, while the onlookers applauded wildly, I relished a prolonged group hug with the other ballet teachers, many of whom I hadn’t seen in nearly a year.

Chris’s forehead creased with worry as I limped over to his table. He kissed me and wrapped me in a strong embrace. “Hon, that was amazing. You were amazing. I can’t believe you did that.” Stepping back, he peered into my face. “But I can see you’re hurting, now. Was it worth it?”

“Oh, yes!” I said with a huge smile. Because even though that performance had been far from my best—I hadn’t even been able to do some of the steps, and I had probably set myself up for some extended sessions with ice bags over the next couple of days—for a few moments toward the end of the piece, I had achieved my ultimate high, joyfully soaring through space and time once again. And, for me, nothing’s better than that.

NEWSLETTER: SEPTEMBER 2024 / October 4, 2024 by Lynne Heinzmann

Are you like me and get excited every September, looking forward to the new school year, even though it may have been years since you’ve last seen the inside of a classroom? There’s just something about the days getting shorter, the nights getting crisper, and the bulbous yellow buses lumbering down the early morning dew-covered streets that makes my heart race with anticipation. Do you feel the same way?

And hopefully, you’ve been anticipating receiving this latest newsletter from me. LOL! This month, I have a few people to thank. Then, I will mention a few upcoming gigs you can attend. I’ll let you know how you may contact me for editorial or book coaching services—fiction or non-fiction. And finally, I’ll share the beginning of a short story I wrote, called “Flash Mob Ballet,” about an old lady dancer—like me!

SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A MEMOIR?

URI’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

I had a blast teaching another session of my memoir class for URI’s OLLI Program. Thank you to everyone who turned out and enjoyed the chocolate chip cookies. The class was filled to capacity and the participants asked fantastic questions—including, “When are you teaching another OLLI class?” Please stay tuned to future newsletters for additional information…

ARIA Picnic for Members and Family

Yawgoo Bakes and Barbeques

Slocum, RI

Sunday, August 18

Thanks to all of the writers who are members of the Association of Rhode Island Authors (ARIA) and attended the annual picnic held on Sunday, August 18, at Yawgoo Bakes in Slocum, RI. Yes, it rained but we still enjoyed good food, good fun, and good company with dozens of other authors and their families.

To find out more about ARIA, visit their website by clicking HERE.

LARCHMONT REMEMBERED

Westerly Library Library

Thursday, August 20, 2024

Once again, I had a wonderful time joining former Providence Journal columnist, Daniel Harrington for his presentation about the February 1907 Larchmont Disaster, when the ship collided with the schooner Knowlton in the frigid waters off the coast of Block Island. After Dan’s spellbinding presentation, I spoke briefly about one of the survivors, Sadie Golub, and how I used her as a character in my novel Frozen Voices.

To all the folks at the Westerly Library—staff and patrons alike: Thank you for spending your evening with Dan and me!

EXETER FALL FESTIVAL

Yawgoo Valley Ski Resort

Friday, September 21, 2024

10 AM to 3 PM

Please visit this year’s Exeter Fall Festival sponsored by the Friends of the Exeter Public Library and held at the Yawgoo Valley Sik Area on Saturday, September 21, from 10 AM to 3 PM. Outdoors, you will find dozens of tents of local businesses and artisans—including me. Indoors, Yawgoo Valley will be holding its annual used ski and snowboard sale. Join us for pumpkin painting, face painting, games, food trucks, vendors, entertainment, a K-9 demonstration, some raffles, music, and more! Proceeds benefit the library, and the event is held rain or shine.

THE BIG E

Eastern States Exposition

1305 Memorial Ave. West Springfield, MA 01089

September 13 to 29, 2024

I will be there on Thursday, September 26, 2024

10 AM to 9 PM

I am super-excited to be part of the Big E, the largest fair on the East Coast and the 7th largest in North America! If you come, you can enjoy hours of entertainment and attractions, terrific food, plus the best that New England—and beyond—has to offer. On Thursday, September 26, I will be in the Rhode Island State Pavilion selling my books and stained glass ornaments from 10 AM to 9 PM, so please stop by!

I currently have room in my schedule to take on one additional client/project. If you are in need of a book coach to help you write a book or an editor to help you prepare a book for publication, please visit my website by clicking HERE, and complete a Client Intake Form found on the SERVICES page. I will contact you promptly to discuss your project. I work with authors of both fiction and non-fiction and on projects at various stages of completeness, from concept to querying agents.

That’s all the news for this month. And now, here’s the beginning of “Flash Mob Ballet,” a short story I wrote about an older woman who still loves to dance—like me! I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for reading!

Lynne

FLASH MOB BALLET

by Lynne Heinzmann

It had been over a year since I’d last danced. I’d had foot surgery the previous March. “Six-week recovery,” the surgeon had said. But then the stress of using crutches caused three discs in my spine to rupture, which led to back surgery in July. When I finally was up on my feet again in September, a bone in my foot cracked—stress fracture—leading to six more weeks in an orthopedic boot that caused further back injury. 2019 became the year that disappeared behind a calendar full of doctor’s appointments and physical therapy sessions.

Which was why the Facebook flash mob notice caught my eye. I had just told both my doctors that I was not willing to have any more surgery at this time, despite persistent pain in both my foot and my back. I didn’t want 2020 to disappear, too. Heck, I was only 55 years old. I wanted to skip and bend and stretch and move again. In short, I wanted to dance.

February 1st had been designated as National Ballet Teachers’ Day—Who comes up with these designations, anyway?—so my friend, Theresa, a fellow ballet teacher, had choreographed a simple jazzy ballet number to “Hot Lunch,” the song from the movie Fame. Her flash mob plan was to have all the ballet teachers from the area meet at the Providence Place Mall Food Court at noon on Saturday, February 1st. “Let’s show them all what a bunch of old ladies can do!” Theresa wrote in her mid-January post.

The next morning, I waited until after my husband left for work before I downloaded the video of Theresa’s “Hot Lunch” choreography onto my phone. Chris loved me and tried his best to protect me from further injury. “I’ll go grocery shopping. You just put your feet up.” “Do you really think you could manage a hike in the woods? Let’s wait until you heal some more.” “Don’t worry. I’ll take the dog for a walk.” I knew Chris would not approve of my flash mob plans.

I had two weeks to progress from invalid to dancer and had no idea if I was up to the physical challenge. That first day, it took me ten minutes alone to find my ballet shoes, which were zippered inside my dance bag and tucked into the back of my closet. Chris had probably hidden them there in case I wasn’t able to return to dance again, so I wouldn’t be reminded of losing that joyful part of my life.

I pulled on my ballet slippers over socks while wearing my usual daily outfit of yoga pants and a sweatshirt. No need to put on the full leotard-and-tights ballet getup until I knew if I’d be able to dance at all. My only nod to flash mob practice was that I’d donned a sports bra instead of my usual padded underwire one, figuring I might as well be comfortable.

I stepped into the dance studio that was attached to my living room and let the French doors swing wide open, stirring the accumulated dust into little eddies swirling across the floor. The room felt damp and chilly and smelled faintly of baby powder and old sweat. I hadn’t taught a ballet class in that room for years—opting to teach at the local Y instead—and hadn’t worked out in there since the day before my foot surgery last spring. The room had sat empty for nearly a year, as a silent, closed-door reminder of what I couldn’t do.

The early morning sunlight slanted through the row of tall windows that lined the south wall of the studio. In its golden glow, the twirling dust sparkled like fairies, inviting me to dance with them. I dropped my phone into the cradle and powered up my speaker system. “Let’s get started,” I said to no one.

I cued up some basic ballet warm-up music but then hesitated, my left hand resting lightly on the wooden barre secured to the wall, my feet ballet’s first position. As long as I didn’t try to dance, returning to it was still a possibility. But if I tried, and found out my body was no longer capable of doing it, I’d have to make peace with the fact that ballet would no longer be part of my life. I’d been dancing since the age of three, so its loss would leave a huge, painful hole.

I smiled wryly. “I could always take up knitting,” I said, repeating the advice once offered by a ballet company director—obviously not a fan of my technique.

Punching a button on my phone, I restarted the warm-up music and a slow piano tune filled the room. “Here goes nothing.” My stomach felt queasy and my hands were cold.

The first exercise on the playlist was pliés, one of the most basic steps of ballet. I began with my heels together, toes turned out, and body pulled erect. Using my thigh muscles, I bent my knees and pressed them outward, over my toes. Out and in, out and in, several times; first in small bends with my heels on the floor, then in deeper bends, lowering my derriere to ankle level before returning to an upright position. Once I’d done the pliés in first position, I moved on to second, then fourth, then fifth, and then turned and repeated the exercise with my right hand on the barre.

After pliés, I paused the music to take stock of my body. My foot was a little sore and my back ached a bit, but not much more than was usual these days. “I might as well keep going,” I decided aloud.

But during the next exercise, tendus, my bad foot was too stiff to point correctly, and when I tried to relévé—rise onto the balls of my feet—a sharp pain shot all the way from my toes to my knee. I flunked down on the hardwood floor, tears of frustration and disappointment immediately filling my eyes.

As the tendu music played on, Fred, our beagle puppy, trotted into the studio and snuggled himself into my lap. Somehow, he seemed to know when I most needed his company and sympathy.

Stroking his velvet ears, I said, “I danced for fifty-two years. That’s a good long run, right?”

Fred licked my face and wagged his tail. When I didn’t respond, he ran out of the room and returned, carrying a rubber ball.

I wiped my cheeks with my fingers. “I’m not really in the mood to play right now, buddy.”

He dropped the blue ball into my lap and wagged his brown and white tail, prancing back and forth in front of me.

“Oh, whatever.” I picked up the toy and tossed it across the room, accidentally hitting a framed photograph that hung on the wall between two windows. A few years ago, Chris had surprised me by having a dozen photos of me dancing through the years enlarged, framed, and displayed throughout the studio and now I’d hit one of the photos with the ball. I watched in dismay as it slow-motion tumbled to the floor, the glass splintering into dangerous shards and scattering across the room.

(To be continued next month)

NEWSLETTER: AUGUST 2024 / August 7, 2024 by Lynne Heinzmann

Hot, muggy, and wonderful!

Welcome to the dog days of summer. In case you were wondering, Google says: “The phrase ‘dog days of summer’ comes from the ancient Romans, who associated the hottest days of summer with the star Sirius, also known as the ‘Dog Star’. The Romans called this period dies caniculares, or ‘days of the dog star’, which was eventually translated into English as ‘dog days’.” So, there you have it!

For this month’s newsletter, I have a few people to thank. Then, I will plug an upcoming OLLI class I am teaching, mention a writers’ picnic you could attend, and let you know how you can contact me for editorial or book coaching services—fiction or non-fiction. Finally, I’ll share the ending of my short story, “Gronk,” the first half of which I included in last month’s newsletter. Some of you might recognize this story from my latest novel, But Cats Don’t Talk, which contains a much shorter and very different version.

Interview with Lisa Tener

about

BREATHE.WRITE.BREATHE.

for How-to-Write-a-Book.com

I was thrilled to be asked to conduct an interview with book coach and author Lisa Tener about her latest book, Breathe.Write.Breathe. for the website How-to-Write-a-Book.com. Lisa is so friendly and full of life and her book is an important one for writers and other creatives. Lisa, thank you for this wonderful opportunity to interview you.

Click HERE to read the interview.

And click HERE if you would like to buy your own copy of Breathe.Write.Breathe.—which I highly recommend!

*Me with my twice-read (and counting!) copy of Breathe.Write.Breathe.*

SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A MEMOIR?

Rogers Free Library, Bristol RI

Monday, July 15, 2024

I had a blast teaching another session of my memoir class on July 15 at Rogers Free Library in beautiful Bristol, Rhode Island. More than a dozen participants joined me for an interactive class—with lots of good questions!—all about how to plan and then write a memoir.

The class was the second installment of the library’s 6-part Writer’s Aid Series, hosted in partnership with the Association of Rhode Island Authors (ARIA). If you are interested in attending another class in the series, they’re free but registration is required, so contact Ann Kathrin Weldy, the library’s programming coordinator, at telephone: (401) 253-6948 or email: aweldy@rogersfreelibrary.org

Click HERE to purchase signed copies of my books.

THE LARCHMONT REMEMBERED: RHODE ISLAND’S MOST HORRIFIC MARITIME DISASTER

Woonsocket Harris Library

Thursday, July 18, 2024

I thoroughly enjoyed participating in a presentation with former Providence Journal columnist, Daniel Harrington at Woonsocket’s Harris Library. Dan dramatically described the terrible night in 1907 when the passenger steamship Larchmont collided with the schooner Knowlton in the frigid waters off the coast of Block Island. Then I spoke briefly about how I used that historical information to create my novel Frozen Voices, which chronicles the lives of four real-life people who were aboard the Larchmont that night.

All the folks at the Woonsocket Library—staff and patrons alike—were welcoming and attentive and seemed to enjoy the presentation. Thank you for spending your evening with Dan and me.

SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A MEMOIR?

URI’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

I will be teaching another session of my memoir class for URI’s OLLI Program. This is the blurb from OLLI’s catalogue that describes the class:

Classes are held on the URI Campus in the OLLI Building at 210 Flagg Road, Kingston, RI 02881. To register for class, visit their website at https://web.uri.edu/olli or call them at (401) 874-4197.

ARIA Picnic for Members and Family

Yawgoo Bakes and Barbeques

Slocum, RI

Sunday, August 18, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.

If you are a Rhode Island writer, please consider joining ARIA, the Association of Rhode Island Authors, and attending our annual picnic to be held on Sunday, August 18, at Yawgoo Bakes in Slocum, RI. For the modest price of $24 apiece, you can enjoy good food, good fun, and good company with dozens of other authors. This is a wonderful networking event, too.

To find out more, visit ARIA’s website by clicking HERE.

Hope to see you at the picnic!

I currently have room in my schedule to take on two additional clients/projects. If you are in need of a book coach to help you write a book or an editor to help you prepare a book for publication, please visit my website by clicking HERE, and complete a Client Intake Form found on the SERVICES page. I will contact you promptly to discuss your project. I work with authors of both fiction and non-fiction and on projects at various stage of completeness, from concept to querying agents.

That’s all the news for this month. And now, here’s the rest of “Gronk,” a short story I wrote. I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for reading!

Lynne

GRONK

by Lynne Heinzmann

(continued from last month’s newsletter)

But when we showed Grandpa the tickets that evening, he nodded, smiled, and said, “Thank you very much for the offer, both of you. But unfortunately, I can’t go.”

“What?” Mom and I gasped.

“It’s only three weeks away,” I said. “I’m sure you’ll still be…okay.”

Grandpa plopped some garlic mashed potatoes onto his plate and then passed me the bowl. “I’m sure I will be, too. But the plain fact is that I already promised George Wilson that I would be on his team for the tractor pull at the grange’s fall festival that afternoon.”

“But if you called George and told him that you’d gotten Patriot’s tickets, he’d find someone else to help him out.”

Grandpa shook his head and took a sip of milk. Wiping his mouth, he said, “That’s not the way I operate.” He waved a gnarled index finger at me. “I’m a bit surprised at you, my boy. I thought we’d taught you better than that.”

I felt my face grow warm. “What do you mean?”

“I’m sure you’ve heard me say that a man is only worth as much as his word. People have got to be able to believe what you say and to trust that you’ll keep the promises you make.”

“I know that. But I don’t see…”

Grandpa shook his head again, more slowly this time. “I can’t go running off on George just because I got a better offer somewhere else. I promised him I’d be at the grange festival and so that’s where I’ll be.”

“But it’s the Patriot’s…and it’s Gronk! You might never get the chance to see them again. Especially considering the cancer…and everything.”

Grandpa smiled. “You bring up a good point, my boy. Considering the cancer and everything, don’t you think it’s even more important I do the right thing? I want to make sure to make a good impression on the Man upstairs, so he’ll let me into the gates of heaven when my time comes.” He chuckled. “Tell you what… You and your mom go to the game and you tell Mr. Gronkowski that I say, ‘Hi!’”

Three weeks later, on a cloudy, chilly Sunday afternoon just before Halloween, Mom and I did go to the game, carrying a number 87 jersey we bought at the team store. Down on the field after the game, Rob Gronkowski listened as we told him all about Grandpa and how he was such a big fan of his. The football player smiled a gigantic, boyish smile, and signed the jersey, “To my pal, Patrick. From your fan, Gronk.”

Later that night, I excitedly told Grandpa all about the game, giving him a play-by-play of each quarter. Then Mom and I recounted our conversation with Gronk and gave Grandpa the signed jersey.

Grandpa’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. He absolutely loved that shirt and wore it to watch the Patriots’ games every Sunday for the rest of his life, proudly showing off Gronk’s inscription and signature to anyone around.

One Sunday, a few weeks later, Grandpa and I were hanging out together in his room at Scalabrini Village, the nursing home/ hospice center he’d moved into for “the end game,” as he called it. We sat silently, side by side, watching the Patriots annihilate the New York Jets and munching on some very buttery popcorn that I’d brought from home in an oil-spotted brown paper bag.

I licked some salt off my fingers. “So, Grandpa, tell me the truth. Are you sorry you didn’t go see that game with me?”

Grandpa winked and pointed to the trophy next to the television. “And miss out on winning second place at the grange’s tractor pull contest? Never!”

THE END

NEWSLETTER: JULY 2024 / August 7, 2024 by Lynne Heinzmann

Happy Birthday, America!

I am a little late sending out this newsletter this month, but still want to wish our country a very Happy Birthday. America, we celebrate your 248 years of greatness.

For this month’s newsletter, I am going to thank some folks for a few things, tell you about a couple of upcoming events, and then, as a special summertime treat, I’ll share a short story with you called “Gronk.” Some of you might recognize it from my latest novel, But Cats Don’t Talk, which contains a much shorter and very different version of this heart-warming story.

THANK YOUS

BARRINGTON ARTS FESTIVAL AND COMMUNITY FAIR

Sunday, June 2, 2024

Thank you to all the folks who organized and ran the Barrington Arts Festival and Community Fair on Sunday, June 2, 2024, on the grounds of Barrington’s historic Town Hall. I had so much fun visiting with all of the festival-goers as well as the other artists and vendors. I especially enjoyed hearing some live music—I love gypsy jazz!—and watching a wonderful performance by students from Ocean State Ballet. And to make the event even better, the weather was absolutely perfect—72 degrees and sunny. A truly lovely day!

Lisa Tener’s Book Launch for

BREATHE.WRITE.BREATHE.

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

I thoroughly enjoyed the online launch party for Breathe.Write.Breathe., the newest book from my friend and celebrated book coach, Lisa Tener. This innovative book was written with writers in mind and uses simple ancient practices to breathe new life into your writing, unleash your creativity, unearth your inner wisdom, and develop confidence in your writing in ways you never imagined possible. During the launch party, Lisa led us in some breathing exercises, read an excerpt from her book, and even gave out some beautiful and useful swag. A fun time was had by all.

If you would like to buy your own copy of Breathe.Write.Breathe—which I highly recommend!—please click HERE.

Click HERE to purchase signed copies of my books.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A MEMOIR?

Rogers Free Library, Bristol RI

Monday, July 15, 2024

6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

I will be teaching another session of my memoir class at Rogers Free Library as part of their Writer’s Aid Series. This is the blurb from the library’s website that describes the class:

“A memoir, unlike an autobiography, is an up-close look at your life that focuses on a particular topic or time period. It might be about why you love playing bluegrass fiddle music so much or what happened during your first year of marriage. A good memoir will reveal what you learned from your experiences as well as provide something meaningful for the reader to think about. In this interactive workshop, we will take a look at some well-written memoirs, examine different ways to organize them, and then try writing an excerpt or two. Join the class with your computer or pen/paper on hand and be prepared to begin your personal memory journey.

“This is the second installment of the Writer’s Aid Series, hosted in partnership with the Association of Rhode Island Authors (ARIA). Attend one, some, or all of the 6 events. This series is funded through a grant from the Friends of the Rogers Free Library.”

Registration is required.

Contact: Ann Kathrin Weldy, Programming Coordinator
Tel: (401) 253-6948
Email: aweldy@rogersfreelibrary.org

THE LARCHMONT REMEMBERED: RHODE ISLAND’S MOST HORRIFIC MARITIME DISASTER

Woonsocket Harris Library

Thursday, July 18, 2024

6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

On the evening of February 11, 1907, in the frigid waters west of Block Island, the steamship Larchmont, carrying passengers and freight to New York, collided with the schooner Harry P. Knowlton. It wasn't until the following day that the scale of the disaster and loss of life was discovered. What caused Rhode Island's greatest maritime disaster? What actions, both cowardly and heroic, resulted from the event? Relive this harrowing tale with Daniel Harrington, former East Providence City Council Member and Providence Journal Columnist.

And Dan was kind enough to invite me to join him at Thursday's lecture to provide an exclusive "Afterward," in which I will discuss Frozen Voices, my historical novel that details the real-life exploits of four people who were aboard the Larchmont the night she sank.

Don't miss this exciting version of to "The Larchmont Remembered"!

The event is open to the public and free of charge, but registration is required. See the library’s flyer above for additional information.

That’s all the news for this month. And now, here’s a short story I wrote a few years ago. I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for reading!

Lynne

GRONK

by Lynne Heinzmann

For his entire life, my grandfather loved three things more than anything else: his family, his friends, and the New England Patriots football team. His favorite player on the team was a tight end named Rob Gronkowski, because, as Grandpa said, “Gronk just looks and acts like a good ole farm boy,” a major compliment, coming from Patrick O’Sullivan. Even after Grandpa got sick, most Sundays he and I could still be found on the living room sofa rooting for our team. When Gronk was injured halfway through the season, Grandpa seemed to feel a special kinship with him. “Both of us just have to work hard to get better,” he told me. The tight end reinjured his arm right about the same time that Grandpa found out his cancer had spread to his liver, cementing their bond. “For some reason, God is giving both of us an extra challenge in life right now,” Grandpa said. Even when it became clear that Grandpa was losing his “challenge,” he was still optimistic about the football player’s return to the game; writing him a personal get-well card. “Maybe that will help make Gronk feel better,” he said.

Grandpa had never actually been to a Patriots’ football game because, as a true Rhode Islander, he considered Foxboro, Massachusetts, too far of a journey—about an hour’s car ride from our home. So, on a brisk Saturday morning that fall, when one of Mom’s piano students gave her two box seats to an upcoming game, she came running out to me, while I was tending the animals in the barn.

“Look what Angie’s father gave us!” she said, waving a pair of tickets.

I’d never seen professional football game tickets before and marveled at how big and colorful they were. “That’s great, Mom. Are you and Grandpa going to go to the game?” I tried to hide my jealousy, brushing hay off the sleeve of my flannel shirt.

Mom smiled. “No, silly. I’m driving you and Grandpa there.”

I could feel a smile spread all the way across my face. “Really?” I’d always wanted to see a live game. But now I felt selfish. “Mom, Angie and her dad gave those tickets to you.”

Laughing, she said, “I don’t know the first thing about football. If I went, Grandpa would have to spend half the time trying to explain the game to me. And besides…” her smile grew as large as mine must have been, “Mr. Green told me that this game with the Dolphins is going to be Rob Gronkowski’s first home game back since his injury. Isn’t that the big blonde guy that you and Grandpa are always making such a fuss about?”

“Gronk’s going to be there? Oh my gosh! Grandpa is going to flip out! He’ll get to see his favorite player in person!”

“October 27.” She bit her lip. “I only hope that Grandpa stays well enough to go to the game.”

“What do you mean?” My stomach suddenly felt all squishy.

She sat down on the three-legged milking stool. “Peter, you must have realized by now that Grandpa isn’t getting better.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I took him to his appointment last week, Dr. Burnside said there was nothing more they could do, that it was just a matter of time, now. Grandpa’s making arrangements for hospice care.”

I stroked Bertha’s brown spot, prompting the cow to wag her tail in appreciation. “Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”

“I don’t know, Hon. It’s almost as if I believed that if I didn’t mention Grandpa’s cancer, it didn’t really exist. Or maybe by not talking about it, it would deprive the disease of its strength. Either way, I guess it doesn’t matter anymore. Grandpa doesn’t have much time left.”

I leaned my forehead against the cow and inhaled her dusty warmth. “Is he in a lot of pain?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so. The doctor gave him a whole bottle of pain pills and told him if he uses those up, he can come back for more.”

“October 27,” I said. “That’s three weeks from now. Is there really a chance that he won’t…make it?”

Mom frowned. “More like he might not feel well enough to go.”

“To see the Gronk play live? No way! Unless he is dead, Grandpa will go to the game.”

She laughed. “Good. Then, let’s tell him about the tickets tonight at dinner.”

To be continued in next month’s newsletter

NEWSLETTER: JUNE 2024 / June 25, 2024 by Lynne Heinzmann

Thanks to all you wonderful dads out there!

For this month’s newsletter, I want to thank some folks for a few things and then tell you about a couple of upcoming events—one of which is this Sunday!

THANK YOUS

ARIA Writing Academy: So You Want to Write a Memoir?

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Thanks to all who joined me for this 90-minute online class I taught about how to write a memoir. The participants were friendly and inquisitive and reported learning a lot about the genre and leaving the class with several potential memoir topics. A big shout out of thanks to Tabitha Lord and others from the Association of Rhode Island Authors who make these ARIA Writing Academy classes possible.

By the way, I will be teaching “So You Want to Write a Memoir?” again for ARIA at the Rogers Free Library in Bristol, RI, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 15, 2024. Contact the library for registration by clicking HERE.

Click HERE to purchase signed copies of my books.

Scituate Rotary Farmers Market

Saturday, May 11, 2024

Thank you to all those who drove all the way up to Scituate to join me at the Scituate Rotary Farmers Market (46 Institute Lane, North Scituate, RI). The weather cooperated beautifully for the opening day of the season, and the tents were filled with vendors selling plants, soaps, delicious foods, and, of course, books. There was a steady stream of visitors all morning, including many families and lots of dogs. If you missed it, don’t worry. The market will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon through September.

Ed Evarts’s Book Launch for

THE BRAVERY TRICK

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Chris and I had a wonderful time at the Boston book launch of The Bravery Trick, written by Leadership Coach, Business Strategist, and Podcaster Ed Evarts. I had the privilege of working with Ed as his coach and editor on this project—an important book about how necessary it is to be brave at work, complete with actionable bravery strategies. Thank you to Ed, his lovely family, and all the wonderful people at the book launch for making it a truly memorable evening.

If you are interested in learning more about The Bravery Trick or would like to order a copy, click HERE.

NARRAGANSETT BREWERY: PINTS AND PAGES

Monday, May 20, 2024

Chris (and my ever-faithful friend, Jayna!) also joined me for a book-signing event at Providence’s Narragansett Brewery. We had great beer, great food, and great fun chatting with book lovers of all ages. Here’s a photo of me with Alfred Crudale, a fellow author and very nice guy. Check out Al’s fascinating book, The Voices of Italy, about Italian language newspapers and radio programs in Rhode Island by clicking HERE.

UPCOMING EVENTS

BARRINGTON ARTS FESTIVAL AND COMMUNITY FAIR

Sunday, June 2, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On the grounds of the Barrington Town Hall

I am super-excited to be part of the Barrington Arts Festival and Community Fair on Sunday, June 2, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., held on the grounds of their historic Town Hall (283 County Road, Barrington, RI). In addition to artists and vendors—like me!, there will be live music and performances by Ocean State Ballet and Arts Alive! Plenty of food trucks will be on hand to supply a wide range of menu options. Kids activities will run 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and include face painting, balloon art, bubbles, and painting. The good folks of Barrington are even offering a free shuttle service from the Barrington High School to the Arts Festival from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Please stop by for some fun!

Lisa Tener’s Book Launch for

BREATHE.WRITE.BREATHE.

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Please help me celebrate the publication of Breathe.Write.Breathe., the newest book from my friend and celebrated book coach, Lisa Tener. Lisa writes: “I am especially excited about what this book can do for writers—new and seasoned—as they learn simple ancient practices that will guide them to breathe new life into their writing, unleash creativity, unearth inner wisdom, and develop confidence in and commitment to their writing in ways they never imagined possible.

Breathe. Write. Breathe. will help you:

Write with unparalleled ease.
Free your authentic voice.
Silence your inner critic.
Ignite creativity through mindful movement and breath.
Transform writing from a task into an adventure.
And so much more!”

If you would like to buy this wonderful book and help Lisa attain Amazon Bestseller status, please order Breathe.Write.Breathe. on June 12, 2024, by clicking HERE.

That’s all the news for this month.

Thanks for reading!

Lynne

Lynne Heinzmann: Author | Book Coach | Editor, 50 Browning Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852, USA

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NEWSLETTER: MAY 2024 / May 10, 2024 by Lynne Heinzmann

Thank you to all moms who make this a better, kinder world!

In this month’s newsletter, I have a few upcoming events to tell you about and then I’ll share some photos of our awesome trip to Spain!

UPCOMING EVENTS

ARIA Writing Academy: So You Want to Write a Memoir?

Instructor: Lynne Heinzmann

Tuesday, May 7, 2024, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

If you would like to know more about writing memoir, please consider joining me for this 90-minute online class I am teaching via Zoom.

Class Description: A memoir, unlike an autobiography, is an up-close look at your life that focuses on a particular topic or time period. It might be about why you love playing bluegrass fiddle music so much or what happened during your first year of marriage. A good memoir will reveal what you learned from your experiences as well as provide something meaningful for the reader to think about. In this interactive workshop, we will take a look at some well-written memoirs, examine different ways to organize them, and then try writing an excerpt or two. Join the class with your computer or pen/paper on hand and be prepared to begin your personal memoir journey.

Class fee: $30

Registration: The class is sponsored by ARIA (the Association of Rhode Island Authors) but anyone can attend. To register and pay for the class, visit the ARIA website by clicking HERE.

I hope to see you in class!

Click HERE to purchase signed copies of my books.

Scituate Rotary Farmers Market

ARIA AUTHOR EVENT

Saturday, May 11, 2024, from 9 a.m. to Noon

If you are looking for something to do any Saturday morning from now through September, drive on up to the Scituate Rotary Farmers Market at 46 Institute Lane in North Scituate to buy some fresh produce/meat/bread, participate in fun children’s activities, hear live music, and meet local authors. I’ll be there selling my books from 9 a.m. to Noon on Saturday, May 11. Stop by and say, “Hi!”

Ed Evarts’s Book Launch for

THE BRAVERY TRICK

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

I am thrilled to announce that Leadership Coach, Business Strategist, and Podcaster Ed Evarts will be releasing his latest book, The Bravery Trick, on Tuesday, May 14. I had the privilege of working with Ed as his book coach and editor on this project. In The Bravery Trick, he shares four impactful strategies based on personal and client experiences, survey findings, and podcast guest interviews that emphasize bravery’s crucial role in the contemporary workplace. Dr. Richard Boyatzis, an expert in the field of emotional intelligence, states that this book provides “food for thought to prepare you for your moment of courage and bravery.” Congratulations, Ed!

Look for The Bravery Trick on Amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

That’s all the news for this month. Now, as promised, here are some photos I took of our recent trip to Spain, featuring my wonderful mom Marilyn, my big brother Phil, my lovely sister-in-law Colleen, and me.

Enjoy and thanks for reading!

Lynne

OUR TRIP TO MADRID AND BARCELONA

April 13 to 21, 2024

The Royal Palace in Madrid: Enormous and beautiful

The Royal Palace Dining Room in Madrid: Five glasses at every seat

The Royal Palace in Madrid: A new (old) violin for Chris?

Me, Colleen, Phil, and Marilyn in Madrid: Churros and chocolate—yumm!

Flamenco Dancer in Madrid: Graceful and passionate

Sagrada Familia in Barcelona: The Bible in stone

Sagrada Familia in Barcelona: Reaching toward heaven

Sagrada Familia in Barcelona: Beautiful quality of light

Park Guell in Barcelona: Gaudi’s mosaic salamander

Barcelona’s Palace of Music: Breath-taking stained glass ceiling

Gaudi’s Casa Batllo in Barcelona: Creatively lit at night

Roman ruins overlooking the sea near Barcelona: Once held 14,000 people

Lynne Heinzmann: Author | Book Coach | Editor, 50 Browning Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852, USA

NEWSLETTER: APRIL 2024 / May 10, 2024 by Lynne Heinzmann

NEWSLETTER: APRIL 2024

This will be a short newsletter this month because…

I’m going on a trip to Spain!

My globe-trotting mom Marilyn, my big brother Phil, my lovely sister-in-law Colleen, and I leave this Saturday for three days in Madrid followed by a train ride across the country and then three days in Barcelona. I will take lots of pictures and share them with you in the newsletter next month. But first, this month, I have some folks to thank and a few egg-making photos to share.

THANK YOU!

ARIA Chepachet Local Author Event

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Thanks to the fine folks of the Glocester Heritage Society for welcoming Susan Joyce, Jim Dyer, and me—three ARIA authors—to their beautiful building on Main Street/Putnam Pike in Chepachet on a sunny Saturday afternoon in March. Together with my great friend, Jayna White, and my husband, Chris, we had a wonderful time chatting with readers and selling books as part of the ARIA Chepachet Local Author Event. If you missed it, don’t worry. There will be different authors in the building, talking about their books, every weekend through the end of July, so stop on by. And check out the charming village of Chepachet, too.

Click HERE to purchase signed copies of my books.

2024 Ukrainian Egg Fundraiser for the Davisville Free Library

Saturday, March 23, 2024

And thank you to all of the wonderful folks who came to the Ukrainian Egg Fundraiser at Davisville Free Library on a rainy Saturday afternoon in March. Together, we made dozens of beautifully decorated eggs and raised $600 for this wonderful library. Also, thank you to Amanda Chapman and the rest of the wonderful staff at the library for being such gracious hosts.

Check out these fun photos of the event:

Me explaining how to make Ukrainian eggs at Davisville Free Library

My daughter, Julia—a helpful volunteer—near the egg-dying table

The sample egg

My mom, Marilyn—another helpful volunteer—showing the sample egg

Other examples of Ukrainian eggs

That’s all the news for this month.

Thanks for reading!

Lynne

Lynne Heinzmann: Author | Book Coach | Editor, 50 Browning Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852, USA

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NEWSLETTER: MARCH 2024 / March 12, 2024 by Lynne Heinzmann

An old-fashioned Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you!

Since I love writing and coaching historical fiction more than any other genre, I feel it is only appropriate for me to post this old-fashioned card to wish you all a Happy St. Patrick’s Day. And while I’m at it, here’s a vintage card to wish you a Happy Easter, too. (I’m not quite sure what’s up with the chicks in the car, but I liked the sentiment—“All Happiness for Easter”—and the wonderful nostalgic tone of the card.)

And an old-fashioned Happy Easter, too!

For my March Newsletter, I thought I’d thank some folks for letting me share my books, mention a few upcoming events, and then post some photos of our family’s Bluegrass Jam Party, which was held here at our home in February. I hope you enjoy the pictures of Chris—my sweetheart of a husband—as he shares his cooking and musical talents with our friends and family. He LOVES to smoke meat (ribs, brisket, chicken, or whatever) and he’s a smokin’ hot fiddler, too!

But first…

THANK YOU!

Wakefield Books: Book Signing

February 10, 2024

Thanks so much to all of the fine folks at Wakefield Books in the Wakefield Mall in—you guessed it!—Wakefield, Rhode Island, for inviting me to sell and sign books at their store. Here’s a photo of me with BC (the cat from But Cats Don’t Talk) all set up and waiting for the store to open for the day.

My friend, Jayna, joined me at the table as we welcomed people to the store, handed out homemade chocolate chip cookies (of course!), and talked books with many wonderful readers. Thanks to everyone who came out to see us that day!

Click HERE to purchase signed copies of books.

Beachwood Book Club: Frozen Voices

February 27, 2024

And thank you to the members of North Kingstown’s Senior Association’s Beachwood Book Club for being such a great audience for my presentation about my historical novel, Frozen Voices. As an author, I often work in a vacuum, alone with my computer, so I really enjoy getting out to speak with enthusiastic readers. And you had so many interesting and thought-provoking questions, too. Thanks! Beachwood Book Club—and all other book clubs—please let me know when I may come back and participate in another one of your meetings. Such fun!

UPCOMING EVENTS

ARIA Chepachet Local Author Event

Saturday, March 16, 2024, from Noon to 4 p.m.

If you are looking for something to do in Rhode Island on any Saturday from now to the end of July, drive on up to the Glocester Heritage Society Building—a.k.a. the Job Armstrong Store—at 1181 Putnam Pike in Chepachet to meet some local authors and buy signed copies of their books at the ARIA Chepachet Local Author Event. Every weekend, four authors will be in the building, talking about their books. I’ll be there from Noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, and I’d love to see some familiar faces!

2024 Ukrainian Egg Fundraiser for the Davisville Free Library

Saturday, March 23, 2024, from Noon to 3 p.m.

And then, to help out one of my favorite little libraries, I’ll be running the 2024 Ukrainian Egg Fundraiser to benefit Davisville Free Library on Saturday, March 23, from Noon to 3 p.m. If you’d like to support the library, please join us that day to make eggs (call the library in advance to register), or purchase one of the already completed eggs displayed at the library (481 Davisville Road, North Kingstown, RI), made by me or my family ($25 donation). If you live too far away to visit in person, call the library to buy an egg and we’ll be happy to mail it to you ($25 donation plus $10 shipping).

Please help support the wonderful Davisville Free Library!

See the flyer below for additional details.

That’s all the news for this month. Now, as promised, here are some photos of our recent Bluegrass Jam Party, featuring my husband, Chris, and other amazing musicians, family, and friends.

Thanks for reading!

Lynne

OUR BLUEGRASS JAM PARTY

Saturday, February 10, 2024

*Family and friends enjoying a delicious potluck dinner*

*Including ribs and brisket smoked—and sliced—by Chris*
*(Note: Fred, our beagle, hoping that Chris drops something!)*

*And here’s Chris singing and fiddling with other excellent musicians*

NEWSLETTER: FEBRUARY 2024 / February 6, 2024 by Lynne Heinzmann

I hope you love deeply and are loved in return!

I must admit that February is one of my favorite months. I suppose part of the reason for this is that it’s my birthday month—I’ll turn 60 years old on February 11. I have such a hard time believing that! In my head, I’m still in my mid-thirties. But then I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror and realize the truth. I have so much that I still want to do, though; I sure don’t intend to let a few years get in my way!

This year—like most years—Chris and I will host a bluegrass jam party in our home on my birthday weekend. The party really has nothing to do with my birthday; it’s just a good time of year to get together and play music—a month and a half after Christmas and a month and a half before Easter. In mid-February, the weather is usually yucky and folks are looking for something to do. So they’re happy to come here and join us to play bluegrass music for a night. Chris and his music buddies are amazing musicians—Chris plays the fiddle very, very well—and so much fun to listen to! During the party, if I’m feeling particularly brave, I’ll pull out my dobro and play along—very quietly—for a song or two. I’m not very good but still love to be part of the jam. Dinner is potluck, everyone brings delicious food, and a good time is had by all. If I remember to take some pictures that night, I’ll post them in next month’s newsletter.

In this month’s edition, I have some big news to share, a few people to thank, and two February author events to tell you about—one public and one not. And then I’ll share some fun photos readers have sent in of them enjoying But Cats Don’t Talk, my new YA novel. A few of the photos feature cats, too—of course!

BIG NEWS

I’m Now an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach!

I am proud to announce that after completing over 100 hours of online classes and passing three rigorous practicum tests, I have earned a coveted book coach certification from Jennie Nash’s Author Accelerator Program. With fewer than 200 certified coaches worldwide, I have joined an elite group of professionals trained to coach authors through every phase of a book’s life—from conception to publication.

In the coming months, I will be revising this website to offer coaching packages focused on specific aspects of the book-writing process, making it easier for me to provide you with exactly the coaching you want. Do you need help in developing an idea for a book? I can do that. Or perhaps you need assistance writing the rough draft? Count me in. Or maybe you’ve written a draft and need help revising it? I’d be happy to help with that. Or maybe your book is written and polished but you’re confused about how to pitch it to literary agents? I know how to do that. Or perhaps you’d like someone to guide you through the whole book-writing process, beginning to end? I can do that, too. And I LOVE coaching! Helping another author write and publish a book is as rewarding to me as writing and publishing my own books—maybe even more so!

THANK YOU

Thank You, Willett Free Library!

Thanks so much to all of the great folks at Willett Free Library in Saunderstown, Rhode Island, for making my Author Talk there last month so much fun. Everyone—especially Library Director Jennifer Shaker—was so kind and welcoming! The audience was attentive and then asked great questions about But Cats Don’t Talk, writing books, and being a book coach. What a wonderful experience! If you haven’t been to Willett Free Library yet, make sure to visit soon.

Talking about a talking cat at Willett Free Library

Click here to buy a signed copy of the book

And Thank You, Kingston Free Library!

And then last week, the kind folks at Kingston Free Library in Kingston, Rhode Island, welcomed me for a presentation of But Cats Don’t Talk in their beautiful meeting room—once a courtroom. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Librarian Mary Ann Comstock and the rest of the staff there for making me feel right at home. It seemed especially appropriate to do a presentation there since two scenes from the book take place right there on the University of Rhode Island campus.

Reading an excerpt from But Cats Don’t Talk at Kingston Free Library

UPCOMING EVENTS

Book Signing at Wakefield Books

If you happen to be out and about in Rhode Island on Saturday, February 10, please stop by to see me at Wakefield Books in the Wakefield Mall at 160 Old Tower Hill Road in Wakefield, RI. I will be there from 10 a.m. to noon, signing copies of my books. They’d make great Valentine’s Day presents—just saying!

Beachwood Book Club

If you are a member of the Beachwood Book Club of the North Kingstown (RI) Senior Association, I will be joining you for your February meeting at Beachwood House on February 27 to discuss my historical fiction novel, Frozen Voices. I enjoy presenting to book clubs—other people who love to read—and I look forward to meeting with you.

Click here to buy a signed copy of the book

That’s all the news for this month. Now, as promised, here are some photos of readers—and their pets—enjoying But Cats Don’t Talk. If you would like to send me a photo of you enjoying BCDT, too, I’ll post it in a future newsletter.

Thanks for reading!

Lynne

READERS’ PHOTOS OF BUT CATS DON’T TALK

Phil reading ***BCDT*** in Taipei, Taiwan

Avery’s adorable kitten, Igor, getting ready to read ***BCDT***

Julia sharing ***BCDT*** with her cuddly kitty, Beaf

Kate at the Providence Airport, taking ***BCDT*** on a trip with her

NEWSLETTER: JANUARY 2024 / January 4, 2024 by Lynne Heinzmann

NEWSLETTER: JANUARY 2024

Happy New Year! I hope your 2024 is full of wonder and brings you much joy.

One of the items on my to-do list for this week is to write thank-you notes for all of the wonderfully thoughtful gifts our family received during this holiday season. Since you might also have some to write, I thought I’d pass along these “Four Tips for Writing a Good Thank-You Note.” But first, I’d like to express my gratitude to some folks and let you know of two upcoming events you might like to attend.

A Christmastime Book Party at Stillwater Books

I offer this heartfelt “Thank you!” to Steven and Dawn Porter of Stillwater Books (New London Square Plaza, 1745 Main Street, West Warwick, RI) for being such gracious hosts on Saturday, December 16, for our Christmastime Book Party with Author Lynne Heinzmann at their wonderful new store in West Warwick, RI. We munched on delicious Christmas treats and had a lively discussion about But Cats Don’t Talk, my heart-touching new novel about a Rhode Island concert pianist and her talkative kitty. If you weren’t able to make it to this event, please be sure to stop by Stillwater Books soon. It’s such a welcoming place with a friendly staff and is stocked full of fantastic books—many written by Rhode Island authors. Click here for more information about the store and other events they have planned.

January Appearances

I have two Rhode Island library appearances scheduled for January: one on Thursday, January 18, at 4 p.m. at the Willett Free Library in Saunderstown and another on Wednesday, January 31, at 6 p.m. at the Kingston Free Library near URI. Please come to one of them to hear all about my new book, But Cats Don’t Talk. Here are the event flyers with the details:

Click here to find out more about the book or to order a signed copy.

That’s all the news for this month. As promised, here’s the info on thank-you notes. I’ll also post a copy of this newsletter on my website so you can revisit it there whenever you’d like.

Thanks for reading!

Lynne

In this day of fast-flying texts and emails, who doesn’t love to get actual snail mail on occasion? To open the mailbox at the end of your driveway and find something other than advertising circulars or bills—how wonderful! A handwritten note from a loved one is certain to brighten anyone’s day. At this time of year, those welcome missives are often in the form of thank-you notes, acknowledging a thoughtful holiday gift. But how do you write a good one? What should it include? Here are four tips you may find helpful when writing your next thank-you note.

Tip #1: Be Specific

Be sure to identify the gift that was given to you. This will remind the giver of what she gifted and show that it was memorable to you. “Thanks for the present” is way too generic and devoid of any real feeling.

Tip #2: Make It Personal

In your note, explain why the gift is meaningful to you. For example: “Thank you for the blue sweater—my favorite color.” People like to know that you value their gift and that it is special to you in some way.

Tip #3: Keep It Brief

Just a few lines are all that are needed to deliver your message. And by limiting the length of your note, you are much more likely to write it, since the task won’t seem too overwhelming. Generally, three to five sentences are sufficient.

Tip #4: Be Sincere

Your thanks—like all good writing—should come from your heart. If you absolutely LOVE that box of your favorite chocolates from Aunt Norma, go ahead and let those adjectives fly—“scrumptious”, “melt-in-your-mouth delicious”, “delectable”, etc. But if you aren’t all that excited about the package of Post-It Notes from Uncle George, use words like “useful” and “colorful,” which are polite and honest. You can usually find something nice to say about any gift. If nothing else, acknowledge the person’s thoughtfulness or generosity.

Of course, the most important part of writing a thank-you note is making sure you deliver it. Gratitude is a precious gift for both the giver and the receiver.

NEWSLETTER: DECEMBER 2023 / November 26, 2023 by Lynne Heinzmann

Hello, and welcome to my first newsletter!

When I tell people that I’m a book coach, often the first question they ask is, “What exactly is a book coach?” So, I thought I’d take a few minutes in this inaugural newsletter to explain what it is that I do. But first, I’d like to let you know about some upcoming events you might like to attend and to thank some folks.

Crowne Plaza Hotel

801 Greenwich Avenue

Warwick, Rhode Island

Saturday, December 2, 2023

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For those of you who live in the Rhode Island area, make sure to put the ARIA 11th Annual Rhode Island Author Expo on your calendar for next weekend. On Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., over 130 local authors will be selling their books in the beautiful ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel (801 Greenwich Ave., Warwick, RI). The event is free and open to everyone. I’ll be there all day and would love to see you! Click here for more info.

Stillwater Books

New London Square

1745 Main Street

West Warwick, Rhode Island

Saturday, December 16, 2023

4:00 p.m.

And then Steven and Dawn Porter of Stillwater Books have been kind enough to offer to host A Christmastime Book Party with Author Lynne Heinzmann for me at their wonderful new store in West Warwick, RI, on Saturday, December 16 at 4 p.m. Come join us for some delicious Christmas treats and to hear me discuss But Cats Don’t Talk, my heart-touching new novel about a concert pianist and her sweet tuxedo cat. I will talk about my inspirations for writing the book—newspapers, ballet lessons, and cats—and what makes a young adult novel unique and fun to write. Plus, I’ll bring a supply of my handmade stained glass cat ornaments and copies of all four of my published books for sale. Stop in to pick up some last-minute gifts for Christmas! Click here for more information.

I’ve got two Rhode Island library appearances scheduled for January 2024 (Thursday, January 18 at 4 p.m. at the Willett Free Library in Saunderstown and Wednesday, January 31 at 6 p.m. at the Kingston Free Library near URI) and will write more about those in my December newsletter. In the meantime, I want to make sure to give…

A big shout out of “Thanks!” to everyone who helped out and attended the book launch for my new novel, But Cats Don’t Talk, held at the Davisville Free Library in North Kingstown, RI, on Saturday, September 30. I felt so blessed to be able to share the event with so many of you! Here’s one of my favorite photos from the event, showing friends and family joining me at the book-signing table:

Click here to find out more about the book or to order a signed copy.

And thank you to the fine folks at the Rochambeau Library on Hope Street in Providence, RI, for inviting me to participate in their Local Author Fair on November 16. I had a wonderful time hanging out with my great friend, Jayna White, and four delightful children’s book authors—Devan Lalas, Jacob Kramer, Aya Rothwell, and Kirthana Fanning—in the library’s children’s room. And I loved chatting with everyone who stopped by to visit our tables. Here’s a fun photo my husband snapped of the event:

One final “Thank you!”—to everyone who has recently visited my website: LynneHeinzmann.com. I’ve been working on it—trying to update it and make it more visitor-friendly—and would love to hear your comments and suggestions!

That’s all the news for this month. Here’s the info on book coaches, as promised. Thanks for reading!

Lynne

Over the past few years, a new breed of professional has arrived to offer assistance to those wishing to become authors: the book coach. As with all things new, there are some misperceptions about what exactly a book coach is and what services she may provide. Let’s take a close look at book coaches and hopefully clear up any confusion you may have about them.

What is a book coach?

While an editor gets involved in a book project once the writing is complete, a book coach guides an author through the often painful process of creating and publishing a book. This person might work with an author throughout the entire book-making process, beginning to end, or may specialize in helping authors through one or two phases of a book’s development.

Planning the book

A good book coach will help you identify exactly what book you want to write and why you feel you need to write it. Surprisingly, the “why” is often the more difficult question to answer. If you are planning to write a work of fiction or memoir, the coach will help you work out writing craft elements—such as the book’s premise, narrative arc, beginning, middle, climax, ending, hero's motivation/conflict/ change, character development, creation of scenes, point of view, verb tense, and tone of the story—through a series of question-and-answer sessions and exercises. If you are developing a work of non-fiction, the planning process with a book coach often involves crafting a book proposal that identifies such elements as the book’s overview, target audience, research and data, marketing plan, competing works, and annotated table of contents. Regardless of whether you are writing fiction, memoir, or non-fiction, if you work with a book coach throughout the planning stage of your book, you should end up with a well-developed blueprint to follow as you move on to writing your book’s rough draft.

Writing the rough draft

During the process of writing your rough draft, a book coach will serve two major functions: holding you accountable for making steady progress and keeping you true to the blueprint you developed while planning your book. As the author, you will decide how frequently you feel you need to check in with the coach during the writing of your rough draft, generally every two weeks or so. Then, together, you will figure out how many pages or chapters you will complete in that amount of time. Prior to each coaching session, you will send your pages to the coach for her to review. During each session, the coach will make sure you reach your goal of completed pages and verify that you are following your book’s blueprint or, if not, will coach you in how to correct your manuscript to get back on track. You will continue this process until you reach the end of your book blueprint and your rough draft is completed.

Editing the rough draft

Did you know that fewer than 5% of those who set out to write a book actually complete a rough draft? So, if you’ve gotten this far—congratulations! Now that you have a rough draft to work with, your book coach will help you create a revision plan to use as you edit it and make it ready for publication. As you do the revisions, you will meet periodically with the coach in much the same way you worked together during the rough draft process, using your revision plan to systematically edit manageable-sized segments of the book. During this time, the book coach will provide you with instruction on writing craft elements, as needed. All of this work will result in the creation of a polished manuscript, ready for publication.

Preparing your book for self-publication or pitching it to a literary agent

If you plan to self-publish your book, a book coach can help you evaluate your needs (cover art, interior layout, editing, printing, marketing, etc.) and then assist you in finding the perfect publication partner for you. Or, if you want to have your book traditionally published, a book coach can help you prepare quality query documents (query letter, book synopsis, author bio, chapter-by-chapter summary, etc.), identify the best possible literary agents for your work, and create a custom pitch strategy. She’ll also assist you in evaluating offers of representation to help you land your ideal agent and achieve your dream of becoming a published author.

Selecting the right book coach

Writing a book—fiction, memoir, or non-fiction—is difficult and takes months or even years to complete. A book coach can be an invaluable asset to help you navigate the arduous process. For more information on book coaching services, please visit my website: LynneHeinzmann.com