This is important.
In addition to being a young adult author, I am also an occupational therapist and I work part-time in an outpatient psychiatric program. My life is made up of traveling to and from the world of writing/publishing to working with people who have behavioral health issues. But on Thursday, my two worlds collided.
A young adult author who I admire, Ned Vizzini, committed suicide. His book, IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY, about a teen who was experiencing suicidal thoughts and was treated for depression on an inpatient psychiatric unit, and then comes out glad to be alive, is one of the most profound books I've read. It has a prominent place among my young adult book collection...waiting for the day when I might get to meet him and ask him to sign it.
To say I am so sad about his death is a lazy way out of this. So I will try to tell you how I feel and hope to do justice to this important author. It's like I was too busy shopping and missed an important detail. Like if I was just a little more focused on what's truly important maybe I could have done something to keep his light shining. This of course is crazy, because he lived in New York and I live in Chicago and we never met. But it's a reminder to attend to that radar signal inside that tells me someone in my vicinity is not okay.
This radar is always on high alert when I am at work, since so many of the people I work to help are experiencing depression. This time of year, the media is filling our eyes and minds with utter happiness, dreams coming true, high hopes of getting exactly what we want. But there are those among us who are struggling and sad.
Keep your eyes open. If you or someone you know is suicidal, please, please, please call 911 or go to your hospital Emergency Room.
The world needs your light!
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Holiday Greetings!
Virtually open my holiday card to you.....
Here's what it says:
Peace is the best word, around the world,
and magic. Hanukkah lights, stars
among the Christmas trees, your eyes
when I seize the Harry Potter Quidditch
video game. Giggle is another word,
good among girl-women and kindness,
one sweet gesture in a sugar cookie
and fondue, good celebration, good word,
chocolate~strawberries dipped in it.
Season of good words, wishes,
moment into snowy moment.
~ Kathi Baron
Here's what it says:
Peace is the best word, around the world,
and magic. Hanukkah lights, stars
among the Christmas trees, your eyes
when I seize the Harry Potter Quidditch
video game. Giggle is another word,
good among girl-women and kindness,
one sweet gesture in a sugar cookie
and fondue, good celebration, good word,
chocolate~strawberries dipped in it.
Season of good words, wishes,
moment into snowy moment.
~ Kathi Baron
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
Short Story Boot Camp
I'm visiting Zion-Benton Library on Saturday, September 28, 2013, from 1-3 pm. I will be doing a writing workshop for teens and I'm so excited to meet them and to help them with their short story drafts!
I will be discussing what a short story is and how it's different from a book length story, as well how writing short stories helped me to learn my craft. I will share about the process of getting published, especially how I use the critique process to develop my work.
We will be experimenting with a critique group and learning how it can help each writer to further develop their own short story and their skills. Participating in a critique group is a typical process used by most professional writers. Each writer will gain a sense of where they are strong and where they could further develop a piece.
For more information, check out: www.zbteens.com.
And for more information about SHATTERED, my debut novel, please visit: www.kathibaron.com.
Can't wait!
I will be discussing what a short story is and how it's different from a book length story, as well how writing short stories helped me to learn my craft. I will share about the process of getting published, especially how I use the critique process to develop my work.
We will be experimenting with a critique group and learning how it can help each writer to further develop their own short story and their skills. Participating in a critique group is a typical process used by most professional writers. Each writer will gain a sense of where they are strong and where they could further develop a piece.
For more information, check out: www.zbteens.com.
And for more information about SHATTERED, my debut novel, please visit: www.kathibaron.com.
Can't wait!
Friday, May 31, 2013
SHATTERED eBook Now Available
Good news! I launched SHATTERED on Kindle on 6/14/13!
To celebrate, I'm doing a Virtual Book Tour with 15 stops along the way.
Dates/stops of the SHATTERED Tour
June 10
Book Spotlight at Much Loved Books
Book Spotlight at Much Loved Books
June 11
Guest Post and Book Spotlight at Moonlight Gleam
Guest Post and Book Spotlight at Moonlight Gleam
June 12Interview and Review at A Diary of a Book Addict
June 13
Book Spotlight at Unputdownable Books
Book Spotlight at Unputdownable Books
June 14
Feature and Guest Post at Delphina Reads Too Much
Feature and Guest Post at Delphina Reads Too Much
June 15
Review at Hopeless Bibliophile
Review at Hopeless Bibliophile
June 16
Book Spotlight at Every Free Chance Reading
Book Spotlight at Every Free Chance Reading
June 17
Interview and Giveaway at Word Spelunking
Interview and Giveaway at Word Spelunking
June 18
Book Spotlight at My Fiction Nook
Book Spotlight at My Fiction Nook
TBA
Review at Stuck Between the Pages
Review at Stuck Between the Pages
TBA
Review at Books, Thoughts and a Few Adventures
Review at Books, Thoughts and a Few Adventures
June 25
Guest Post at Now is Gone
Guest Post at Now is Gone
June 27
Review at The Kari Annalysis
Review at The Kari Annalysis
June 28 & 29
Guest Post and Review at Therian
Guest Post and Review at Therian
July 1
Review and Interview at J Bronder Book Review
Review and Interview at J Bronder Book Review
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