Cathryn Reads and Writes

MAY 12

It’s Never Too Late

My work as a nurse specialist is in the rear view mirror and I'm honored to have had that career. But now I have this one as an author. Some people might think that your later years mean sitting in a rocker with a cat or a grandchild on your lap. Not for me. There is so much left to do. I had some false starts after retirement. Such as... I bought a new cello. I knew nothing about music except that I love strings. Turns out, practicing an hour a day wasn't as doable as I thought. My elbow pained after fifteen minutes. My husband left the house when I practiced. But I still love the instrument and tune it when the weather changes.

Then, I decided I wanted to tell my story that I'd kept secret most of my life. So, I took writing classes and found my niche with fellow writers. Writing is much more challenging than I imagined. If you're interested in learning to write, send me an email. I'd love to talk to you about it.

What Are You Reading?

6-16-23

I'm reading Kaleidoscope by Cecily Wong. It's on my nightstand and I've only read two or three pages at a time so it'll take me awhile. My nightstand books stay there unless it is really good and then I bring it downstairs to read in my spare time during the day. So far, this one hasn't grabbed me.

5 stars Flying Free by Cecelia Aragon. I came across this book by accident and since I have a fascination with flight, I bought it. Again, it is on Audible and the narrator is excellent. The story weaves the author's self esteem issues and bullying as a child throughout her development as a stunt pilot. There is a lot of technical details which I found riveting such as the effect of G-forces on the human body. Highly recommend.

5 stars Kindred by Octavia Butler. I listened on Audible and enjoyed this story on my walk every evening. It's magical realism - which I don't usually read. But the subject is intriguing and it's well written. I had to grapple with some parts that didn't exactly make sense even with the fantasy nature of it. Still the story is thought provoking enough that it's a five star read .

5 stars. Earlier in the month I finished listening to Erika Krouse's memoir/suspense, Tell Me Everything. The story is intriguing on many levels. The author's personal history of sexual assault tangles up with the crimes she has been hired to investigate. I loved the part about her talent as a 'listener' and her ability to discern meaning from a character's slightest inflections/gestures. The story itself, of the worship given to college football players is disturbing and fascinating. I highly recommend the book. I listened to the audible version and loved it.

4.0 stars. Yesterday, I finished Claire Lombardo's novel, The Most Fun We Ever Had. It's an easy read, a story of a happily married couple and their four daughters all of which have competing personalities and their own private gripes, history, etc. I liked the book a lot. The one negative was the continual lovey dovey parents who, although they have one rough patch in the book, the author piled it on a little too deep for me.

5.0 stars John by Cynthia Lennon, a biography of John Lennon's time with his first wife Cynthia. After watching the Beatles series on Disney Plus titled "Let it Be", my interest in the Beatles was reignited. The audible book was approved by Julian Lennon, their son, in a Forward. I found it well written, and enjoyed learning the backstory for this superstar's early days as a Beatle (before Yoko Ono). For anyone interested in John Lennon, I highly recommend it.

4.5 stars I finished Crossroads and discovered a thirty-five minute narrator-author interview at the end. The quality of the reader's delivery is appealing, well paced and for the most part, as the author intended. Each character has their own story except for the youngest boy. I discovered by way of the interview that a sequel is in process which takes place twenty-five years later. That young boy will be a main character in the sequel. Franzen gets into the minds of his characters. The brilliant Perry with misfit issues then substance abuse (imbibing in the vodka punch at a neighbor's party) the eldest, Clem and his self discovery and fall from grace, Becky the beautiful and her morphing into an adult, Marian the mother with skeletons in her closet, and Russ, the minister/husband/father/philanderer. The story kept me interested and occupied during my daily walks.

Reedsy Winner

October 1, 2021

You Won!

Hey Cathryn, thank you for submitting 'Take that Drink' to the Reedsy Writing Prompts Contest!

Your story was gorgeously atmospheric and deeply moving, and in equal parts painful and hopeful. Your depiction of the world we're now living in, and the personal tragedies facing so many families everyday which are so often lost in the scale of COVID and drowned out by sheer numbers, was affecting and delicately rendered. And we were very grateful for a happy ending! Thank you for sharing your work with us.

We are delighted to let you know that it won the Come Rain or Shine edition of our contest! You can check it out here:

https://blog.reedsy.com/short-story/v3e8ti/