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