Little Things Mean a Lot
Well, who’d a thunk it? It's been exactly three years since I retired from my position as a senior technical writer to pursue a much less lucrative but immensely more rewarding literary career as a fledgling author and literary critic, including this Literary Blog. Three seemingly long years..yet they have gone by in a flash. Amazing how time does fly when you're (finally) having fun. Happy Anniversary to me!

Let's see...In these past three years I've written and (self-)published ten books (see left side panel), including four musicals and a novel, Forty-Thirty. (I am now writing its prequel/sequel.) Along the way, I’ve read and reviewed nearly 100 books for www.authorexposure.com and met and befriended a lot of authors – some famous; some emerging; all very, very talented.

And these are just my literary pursuits. I won't mention the countless hours on the courts, the long, romping walks with FrankieB, or the myriad other activities that have filled my joyous days.

Each and every minute of my time has been and now is filled with wondrous and awesome tiny wonders. You know, the little things that make living so worth while. Including the small blessings in life that truly inspire.

Small Blessings, the critically acclaimed debut novel of famed NPR essayist Martha Woodroof is one of the small inspirations. It captures the essence of what it means to follow your heart. I received an advanced copy of it a month or so ago and my review was posted on www.exposure.com last week. And I was so moved by this tale of living and loving life that I just had to share it with my tennis playing/book reading buddy, Betty. Her comments – as well as Betty in my life – are small blessings in themselves. And so, today, I just had to blog about this novel and share with you Betty's uniquely insightful comments as well as Woodroof's all too kind words about my review.

First, the author's email to my AE editor: "[June’s review] is a really lovely, heart-warming take on SMALL BLESSINGS... Could you let June know, please, how deeply I appreciate it!" A kind, comment that is so greatly appreciated. Especially when an author recognizes and acknowledges my small efforts as a reader/reviewer. Just one of the little things in my daily life that mean a lot.

So, secondly, here are Betty's comments about Small Blessings:

"A beautiful, sensitive and tender story of how two people react to the disappointments of life. One person fears the reality of an unfulfilled life and stays the course, no matter what. The other person runs from the reality of the present frustrations and failures to the hope that a new situation with new associations will be better. The beauty of the story is when the one who "stays" meet the one who "flees"; the one brings the gift of stability and reality and the other brings the gift of adventure in each new day."

Ahhhhh.,...yeah, Betty. You whacked the nail right on the head. The "...gift of adventure of each new day..."

Which is exactly how I now feel with, um, each new day. Enjoying the little things that truly matter. The Small Blessings of and in life. Friends, family. A game of tennis. A newly published book most people like. A walk around the block with my bestest buddy. A phone call from a dear friend. A cozy fire and a good book. A great, stunning, uniquely appealing novel like Woodroof's.

The little things that do mean a lot.