Contributed by Glenda Smith
Sometimes, life brings just what you need to remind you how fortunate you are. November 2008 was a monumentally down year; actually, as I approached the ripe old age of 55, my life’s mood seemed to careen into an abyss. A friend sent me a notice from a group looking for authors, no experience required. In fact, the only requirement was competent reading and writing skills in English and a one-year commitment. I applied, submitted a writing sample, and was accepted.
The writing group spanned the globe and we corroborated in groups, in computer online “rooms” called wikis. In addition to other parts of the plot, my group created the main character, Francesca Imbriani, a young Alaskan girl who lived on Finger Lake and was about to set out to change the world. Unfortunately, I was only able to finish 11 of the 12 months, so my name is not listed in “The Crew” – the name given to the authors group. Nonetheless, the main character in “Passage to Redemption”, hails from her home on Finger Lake and is definitely a creative Alaskan and a heroine.
In March 2019, I was hospitalized with four cerebellar strokes. The remainder of 2019 included episodes of vertigo that left me feeling I was tumbling in space on a rotating roller coaster, inability to get my eyes to work together to read, writing I couldn’t even read, and lots of physical therapy challenges. January 2020 was winding up to the start of a great year with me planning out goals for my real estate business. Then the world news started in with coverage on a new novel coronavirus leaving havoc in its wake.
The mastermind behind the original group, Peter Lihou, of Acclaimed Books continued writing and soliciting authors since 2008. He contacted all authors on the previous “project”, as well as many others, and asked if we would participate in a group writing venture to provide a global view on the Covid-19 situation. “With Love, Comes Hope: Stories & Inspiration During The 2020 Pandemic”, was born, is done, and is available on Amazon sites worldwide in paperback and Kindle formats as an international anthology on the Coronavirus. Due to my own challenges in the year prior to the pandemic, I think my view is different than most; but I am excited to read the other contributions. I am again reminded how fortunate I am.
All proceeds from the anthology will be donated to Bridge2, a nonprofit organization. http://www.bridge2.gg/
