Linda A. Firestone, Ph.D.

Missing in action or not

I feel like I have been missing in action. In reality, over the last few months, I have opened myself to learning a new area of information and getting licensed in it. Like many of the goals I have set for myself over the years, the focus of this new endeavor is women.

Much to my own surprise I have gone and gotten an Insurance license to sell life, health, and annuities. I thought this was way out there but as I have been discovering, women need a good deal of information when it comes to their finances --me included. And so a whole new avenue of writing and teaching has opened up to me.

My initial response was "what has this have to do with anything?" But, I believe that is a narrow way to look at the situation. And, while I was at a business conference the other day, a woman I know through my writing for a business organization approached me. I had not seen her in a couple of years. When she asked what I was doing I started by stating, "I am writing," to which she added "Of course you are" and then I told her I also had earned my ins. license. The conversation continued. It was truly an eye opener for me, as the the expression goes. For one who has written a good deal about creativity, I tend not to accept my own capacity to do more than one thing.

My novel progresses along though I have slowed down recently to do some research on historical San Francisco. I just had an article accepted for an online women's magazine on Bio Identical HRT and I finished a piece on a woman named Marina who composes, writes, and produces work out videos aimed at weight loss.

Another year begins and I am optimistic that this will be the best year yet. I remain focused on moving forward -regardless of what happens always moving forward.

Being Patient

I am working on several projects at the same time: some are unrelated to my writing work. One of the book projects I have going involves another woman. The genesis for the book is her personal experience but the body of the work is based upon other women's experiences. I have not done the full research I need to to frame the stories. I will. However, the overall work is slow going because my friend is in the middle of her experience. Some weeks we get to work, some we don't. Collaborating has its draw backs.

Here is an appeal. If you know a mother in the public eye (either in business or the arts) who is living through or has lived through the intense reality of an addicted child AND she would be willing to share her experience in written form, please have her contact me.

Work on my novel continues though I am sometimes undisciplined about my daily effort to move it forward. I am enjoying the characters and where they have led me thus far. Sometimes, I come across an element that pops up and I have to stop and do some research -- what I think I know may not be accurate. This is a new way of working for me. I usually do the research first. I trust that I will not overlook something important. It is not my first foray into the period so I am not totally unfamiliar with the time. I needed to start writing the story for a variety of reasons.

That's all the news fit to print for the moment.

Confronting Our Demons

A woman I know, who is very talented and resourceful, has been dealing with her son who is bipolar and addicted. Of course, the addiction comes from trying to alter in internal self which is off balance. She has asked me to work on a book with her about mothers and their addicted children.

I love researching, and actually know quite a bit about addiction for a variety of reasons, but still I know this will be an intense project; but one that has the potential of being very rewarding for me, for my friend and for the people who will be touched by the project.

For myself, dealing with the ups and downs of the publishing industry has been trying. I have run out of steam -- temporarily -- and have not tried to pitch a new article to anyone. I must quickly move through this inertia.

My novel is moving along slowly but I have decided to give myself a deadline. You heard it here first!! I have to the end of the year to complete the first draft. I can do this.