Nadine Feldman, Author

celebrating strong female characters and whatever else strikes my fancy

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Before I Begin (Again) #reinvention #bookreviews

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If you’re one of my regular readers, you know I’ve been away for a while. Part of it was “life”; getting co-op approval on a shoebox apartment in Manhattan, which is no small feat; moving; and welcoming our first grandchild into the world. Part of it was the election, but I promise not to say anything more on this blog about that. I’m also working on multiple long writing projects, one of which is causing me a certain amount of heartburn.

However, I also took the opportunity to reflect on what I want for this blog. In the past I’ve mused a lot about my garden, which is fun for me, but might confuse readers who are visiting to see what my fiction might be about. So from here on, you’ll find my gardening metaphors at my new blog, Sustainable Granny. Take a look if you get the chance. I’d love to have you visit me there.

For this blog, I will stick primarily to book reviews. I’ll likely throw in a few other things here and there, but let’s talk fiction here. Mostly I’ll write about women’s fiction, but sometimes I’ll tread into different genres. I’ve managed to run across several interesting books lately, so I have a lot to share.

If you’re an author wanting a review or would like to do a guest post, you’re welcome to submit a query at info@nadinefeldman.com. I’m interested primarily in women’s fiction. Indie authors are welcome, but any books for review must have been edited by a professional. No erotica, please.

I’ll also be offering some discounts and giveaways, so stay tuned.

If you’ve been with me for a while, thanks for hanging in there with me. In many ways I am starting over, and the work ahead feels daunting…but it all begins with one post at a time.

Take care, and I hope you’ll join me in the love of books and reading!

Here’s to the Book Review Bloggers! #gratitude #bookreviews

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I had a post done and ready to go. I’m eager to tell you more about What She Knew! But as I’ve worked this week, I realized I need to tell you about my new heroes…the book review bloggers. It seemed fitting to take a moment and acknowledge the time, energy, and effort they spend so we readers can find out what’s available and what’s good to read.

I’m contacting bloggers who review books in hopes they will review mine. I’ve prepared a lengthy list of reviewers to contact, and I’ve looked up the links one by one. Sometimes the websites are gone. Some don’t cater to my genre. Some bloggers are way behind and not accepting new reviews. Out of each page-long list I’ve compiled, there are about 5-6 that I can contact.

What I’ve noticed in the process is this: book reviewers are a generous lot. They are reading like crazy and sharing their opinions without compensation. In fact, it’s a no-no for me to pay for reviews (outside of industry reviewers such as Kirkus). These bloggers are doing what they do for the love of it. While some have found ways to monetize their blogs, I’m still impressed. A lot of them have day jobs, but still are prolific with their reading and blogging.

Most respond to my queries quickly. One apologized because it took her a day to get back to me.

Most post their review policies, making it clear what they will and won’t read, thus saving me time. It also helps me to know exactly what they want me to send them.

I wouldn’t have the patience to sort through endless requests…some report getting up to 500 queries in a month. That’s a lot of e-mail to read, even before accepting books!

So thank you, book review bloggers. Thank you for loving books. Thank you for taking time you could spend doing other things to read my query and consider my requests. Thank you for helping spread the word…something every author needs in order to have a chance of succeeding when so many books are available.

And, if any of you reading this blog are interested in reading What She Knew, let me know! I’d be happy to send you a copy…just click on the Contact link and tell me what format you would like and where to send a copy.

What She Knew is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Release date for the ebook version is February 29, 2016. The paperback will be available March 29, 2016. More to come!

 

New City, New Friends #newyork #adventures

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Tree at Rockefeller Center
Tree at Rockefeller Center

After bellyaching the other day about the downside of the Internet and social media, I thought I’d write about the plus side of it today.

Over the years, I’ve “met” many authors and bloggers online, and I consider several of them my friends. When I have the opportunity to meet one in person, I will take it if at all possible.

This week I met Carol of Buttercup Counts Her Blessings. Carol initiated a get-together, and I’m so glad she did! She’s warm, funny, and intelligent…of course you know that if you read her blog, but it’s always fun to meet the person behind the blog. If you’re not reading her blog, you’re missing out!

We stood near the skating rink at Rockefeller Center for a while, watching the skaters as we got to know each other better. Later we got coffee and talked some more, and she generously shared some money-saving tips for plays and other cultural events.

I’m a shy person, and sometimes it takes me a while to warm up to someone. I had no such trouble with Carol…our conversation was relaxed and comfortable, as though I had known her for a long time.

Thanks, Carol, for your hospitality and generous spirit! It’s always great to make new friends. For that reason, I am on balance grateful for the Internet.

Next week I’m going to write about Gilbert, Rhimes, and Strayed: The Badass Trinity. Stay tuned! This will be a fun post.

Nadine Galinsky Feldman is the author of The Foreign Language of Friends and the upcoming What She Knew, available March 2016. If you enjoy this blog, please consider purchasing a book or signing up for the newsletter to be kept informed of upcoming promotions and giveaways.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Upcoming Guest Post with Author Toi Thomas #blogtour #romance #novels

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: On Wednesday, November 11, author Toi Thomas will sit in my blogger’s chair and discuss “Why I Decided to Write Romance.” Toi is visiting as part of a larger blog tour, and I understand a giveaway is involved. Here are the other stops of her tour:

Nov. 2nd – Tricia Drammeh

Nov. 3rd – There For You Editing

Nov. 3rd – Samantha’s Books

Nov. 4th – Liza O’Connor

Nov. 4th – The  Sunflower’s Scribbles

Nov. 5th – Mama Reads Hazel Sleeps

Nov. 6th – Annie Higa

Nov. 7th – The ToiBox of Words

Nov. 4th – Is History the Agreed Upon Lie…

Nov. 7th – The Girl with Book Lungs

We welcome Toi on November 11! Let’s show her some love.

Day 1 of 3 Quote Challenge #3dayquotechallenge

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Just as my well of blog post ideas started to run dry, my good friend Gwynn Rogers has come to the rescue! She challenged me to a Three Day Quote Challenge. If you haven’t checked out Gwynn’s blog yet, take a look.

Anyway, here goes!

Treating myself like a precious object makes me strong.

—Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way

We’re a no-pain no gain, just do it society. We’re supposed to be healthy, fit, have the perfect relationship, and work at the peak of our potential.

We’re supposed to be vegan or paleo or whatever the diet du jour is. Recently a complete stranger scolded me for having oatmeal for breakfast. Seriously.

Even some of our spiritual quests seem to involve striving. If we’re not happy, fulfilled, and grateful every minute of every day, we’re doing something “wrong.” I actually had people tell me if I were spiritually better, I wouldn’t have had a miscarriage and stillbirth (don’t get me started on that one!).

And God forbid we complain about anything! There’s always someone to correct us and offer unsolicited advice.

It’s no wonder we’re all so uptight these days.

But treating myself like a precious object makes me strong.

 

What does that mean, anyway?

For me, it means making sure I take time to rest and rejuvenate. Often on Sundays I will do restorative yoga so I can deeply relax. I get regular massages, and from time to time I take a soak in the local bathhouse, Soak on the Sound. My husband and I have a date on the weekend and one in mid-week in order to connect with each other.

Your list may be different, but I’ve come to realize that the creative life doesn’t come from pushing, striving, and cracking the whip. It comes from coaxing and gentle encouragement. It comes from being kind, forgiving, and compassionate toward ourselves. When I remember this (yes, sometimes I go back to my old type-A ways), I get more done with less effort. I don’t stress. I have more fun. The work itself has a deeper quality.

Do you treat yourself like a precious object? If so, how? If not, what would you like to do?

I’m supposed to nominate three people to participate in the challenge, but I don’t like tagging people online. Any volunteers? Let me know, and I’ll feature your blog prominently here.

 

 

Reflections on the #AtoZChallenge

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This year’s AtoZ Challenge is now in our rear view mirrors, and many of my fellow bloggers are reflecting on how it went. After a few days off from writing, I’ve decided to chime in as well.

I almost didn’t do the challenge, because I had scheduled a trip out of town for two weeks in April. However, by drafting posts ahead of time, I managed to keep up, and I’m glad I did!

Along the way, I met a number of talented bloggers…and in fact, met a nearby blogger in person, along with several of her writer friends! I did not see that coming! Thanks, Gwynn.

I haven’t looked at my stats like some bloggers have, but I had many supportive visitors who left thoughtful comments, for which I am deeply grateful. The engagement via the comments and visiting other blogs was the most fun! I ran across blogs that delighted, inspired, and informed me. There’s a lot of talent out there in the blogosphere!

I’ve wanted to turn my gardening adventures into some kind of book, so it was fun to test some ideas this month by using gardening as my theme.

With the challenge completed, I’ll return to a weekly blog for now. I hope to amp that up over time, but I can stick with a weekly schedule easily. I’m nearly ready to send my latest novel, What She Knew (or maybe, It’s not Personal, or maybe something else — I’m title challenged) to an editor. I have a fun idea for a one-act play, and that would need to be completed by September to make it into a local contest. I also know what the next novel will be about, and I’m planning to start research this fall.

I guess what I’m saying is, I’m feeling some real “spark” after this challenge. The creative juices are flowing! There are not enough ways for me to say thank you to all of you — the bloggers, the organizers, the co-hosts. You made April a special month! I send you virtual hugs and look forward to keeping up with several of you.