tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post1036475819499695810..comments2024-03-27T03:16:57.365-04:00Comments on Girlfriends Book Club: Finding our FireWriter Wenchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16730769794553260336noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-83473633691391489492010-10-07T13:34:21.692-04:002010-10-07T13:34:21.692-04:00Hi, Beth! I don't know if you remember me from...Hi, Beth! I don't know if you remember me from our e-mails about your precious cat, but I wanted to tell you that I got the CD version of your book for my husband to listen to next week when he has to fly overseas. It's a 15 hour flight! I think he'll love it as much as I do. Also, I couldn't believe it when I read in this blog that you're a nut for handbags. My family has teased me all my life about my love of handbags. I used to threaten my son when he was little that I was going to take him "pocketbook shopping." Gosh, another thing we have in common.Gloria DeWitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02497363807626453559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-37582308745526842242010-10-04T00:39:26.507-04:002010-10-04T00:39:26.507-04:00Oh Beth, Your personal story is indeed inspiring. ...Oh Beth, Your personal story is indeed inspiring. You were given a second chance at life, and you grasped it strongly. Empowering you to pursue your dream of writing, and I am just one (of many) who is thrilled that your dream came to fruition. You are a star my dear friend.Stuart Ross McCallumhttp://www.beyondmycontrol.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-5300283484456422692010-10-02T08:20:20.394-04:002010-10-02T08:20:20.394-04:00I love this post!! Very inspiring, thanks so much...I love this post!! Very inspiring, thanks so much for sharing your story! Life certainly is different when you are focused on your purpose. Better, scarier, happier, crazier...etc...etc...etc...Jill Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16336227232690745889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-64792493379271394442010-10-01T18:37:25.176-04:002010-10-01T18:37:25.176-04:00Wow, Beth, what a terrible thing to have gone thro...Wow, Beth, what a terrible thing to have gone through. So glad you emerged not only healthy and whole, but inspired to change your life.Therese Fowlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14947928823404887883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-57112339303494939912010-10-01T18:28:28.313-04:002010-10-01T18:28:28.313-04:00What an inspiring story. I love the idea of '...What an inspiring story. I love the idea of 'finding your fire'. And I loved the stories in the comments. <br />I think I've only recently found my fire, the trouble lately is figuring out exactly how to wreak more havoc with it. Peaceful havoc of course! :-)Melissa Sarnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11215683401795724259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-53611900731286828892010-10-01T13:37:22.157-04:002010-10-01T13:37:22.157-04:00Thank goodness for our fires! This was so inspirin...Thank goodness for our fires! This was so inspiring.Ann Hitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17249268908638339927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-69412377457595515122010-10-01T13:15:50.115-04:002010-10-01T13:15:50.115-04:00The more I read what you gals have to say, the mor...The more I read what you gals have to say, the more clear it becomes how we all have such fascinating stories about our journeys into print. Can you imagine all of us on an author panel together? That would be something!Beth Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16770840174293503835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-45739250891503036632010-10-01T12:37:45.623-04:002010-10-01T12:37:45.623-04:00What an inspirational post!!
I was always a wri...What an inspirational post!! <br /><br />I was always a writer, and that's the reason I became a lawyer-- to try to marry my passion for writing with a profession and a steady paycheck. But I was miserable practicing law (brief writing just isn't the same as novel writing, it turns out....), and after a while, I started writing more and more. Eventually, I took a writing class and began a novel and then, as they say, the rest is history!Brenda Janowitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02341902606434073240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-12553899818530062802010-10-01T11:44:17.756-04:002010-10-01T11:44:17.756-04:00Your post gave me goosbumps--I've got to read ...Your post gave me goosbumps--I've got to read your novel! My fire was lit in fourth grade when my teacher read my story to the class. I had a physical reaction to hearing my words read aloud. I wrote a novel in 5th grade, another in 6th grade, plays for sibs and cousins on summer vacations. I went in a different direction through college, pursuing an MBA, working in a bank, having children. But during that entire time writing came out sideways. I wasn't writing in any formal sense but I took every opportunity to write...for the church bulletin, school newsletter, any little project that used printed words. My husband encouraged me to stop all the writing around and start a novel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-76448654918046308022010-10-01T09:34:39.935-04:002010-10-01T09:34:39.935-04:00What a great story, Beth! It's so important t...What a great story, Beth! It's so important that we wake up and do something everyday that makes us happy and fulfills us. Sometimes it takes a major crisis to really search deep down and find it, as in your case. So glad you pulled through your scary time and ended up doing something you love! Congrats on all your success (and your book has one of the prettiest covers I've ever seen, btw!).<br /><br />Maria, yay for the epiphany that made you fire up your computer instead of cleaning closets! (Although you just made me realize I need to clean closets this fall...sometime!).<br /><br />Melissa, that was one wise palm reader!!!Susan McBridehttp://susanmcbride.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-69605729303263831252010-10-01T09:26:17.762-04:002010-10-01T09:26:17.762-04:00Heartfelt post, Beth. If I didn't already writ...Heartfelt post, Beth. If I didn't already write, I'd want to :)<br /><br />That is such a bizarre incident, Melissa! I love stories where people change their lives in midstream.Karin Gillespiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13526466399023966816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-74126581969566139702010-10-01T09:23:54.346-04:002010-10-01T09:23:54.346-04:00Oh, I just love reading about how y'all found ...Oh, I just love reading about how y'all found your fire. This is the stuff great stories are made of!Beth Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16770840174293503835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-2322102352441046212010-10-01T08:34:46.613-04:002010-10-01T08:34:46.613-04:00How amazing that one of the worst experiences in y...How amazing that one of the worst experiences in your life triggered one of the best.... the world is a happier place since you decided to change careers, Beth!Sarah Pekkanenhttp://www.sarahpekkanen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-78388625139376009632010-10-01T06:53:43.857-04:002010-10-01T06:53:43.857-04:00What an inspiring post, Beth! And I love Tootie...What an inspiring post, Beth! And I love Tootie's words of wisdom.<br /><br />When I was thirty, a five-dollar palm reader in New Orleans told me that whatever my job was, I was on the wrong side. I were an actress, I should be a director; if I were a teacher, I should be a student. So I told him I was an editor and wasn't meant to be a writer, so forget that. But I couldn't stop thinking about what he said and what it meant to me. In my hotel room that night, I took out my trusty notebook and wrote a fictionalized account of the experience, just a couple of paragraphs. That fortune ended up changing my life in a "power of positive thinking" kind of way. <br /><br />P.S. Anyone who hasn't read Saving CeeCee Honeycutt--it's one of the best books I've read this year. LOVE.Melissa Senatehttp://www.melissasenate.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-63674916871788281982010-10-01T01:26:51.096-04:002010-10-01T01:26:51.096-04:00Beth, sometimes our epiphanies come in strange for...Beth, sometimes our epiphanies come in strange forms. Eight years ago, at the age of 42, I drove my husband to the airport for a 3 week business trip to Israel. After kissing him goodbye he asked me what I planned to do with myself for 3 weeks without him. *snort* (At the time we had 3 school age children, so only a man would ask this question). I told him I was going to organize all the closets in our house. On the way home I was stuck with how assinine that goal seemed. I came home, fired up the computer and started writing:)<br /><br />Congratulations on your success!Maria Geracihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02296473703226019932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-77940546849566970142010-09-30T20:46:40.279-04:002010-09-30T20:46:40.279-04:00I love Beth's story! I'm not sure I'v...I love Beth's story! I'm not sure I've discovered my fire yet.bermudaonionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557noreply@blogger.com