Doreen McGettigan

I know its cliché, but the weeks seem to be floating by leaving me feeling like I’m missing something or not living life to the fullest. One of my goals for this year is to slow my days down and to be present and mindful of every minute. Another goal is to enjoy each season. Friday is a great day to take some time to reflect on my favorites, flops and food over the past week.

Did you hear that big sigh? What a busy week I’ve had. There’s so much to reflect on.

Read the rest of this entry »

I have always been fascinated with woodworkers. Someone that can take a plain piece of wood and create a piece of furniture, a door or even an entire house with their bare hands and the oldest and most basic of tools in my eyes is a true artist.

While scrolling through posts on Instagram a few weeks ago a photo of a gorgeous door caught my eye. I liked the photo and continued looking through Richard Voroscak’s photo’s and then his profile. I was equally surprised to learn that he was from, and still lived in my hometown of Bristol, Pa.

He specializes in historic reproduction and restoration but he can make anything.

I fell in love with his work and I am so excited to introduce you to him and to share his work with you.

The Interview:

Thank you so much Richard for taking the time to introduce us to your work…

Has social media changed the way you do business and if so how?

I do a lot of work here in Bristol Borough and it’s all because people know me or by word of mouth. I started an Instagram account to show the work I am doing to a broader audience and hopefully meet up with more designers or architects that will ask me about doing work. It is also really great to connect with other woodworkers and see what they’re up to and they’re not just in the US, I’ve even connected with a woodworker from the UK.

When did you discover you had a talent for creating with wood?

As a young kid in my parent’s basement I made a wood lathe out of two pieces of wood and a bow and I was actually able to use it for a while!

You started your woodworking/cabinetmaking business twelve years ago. Can you tell us the story of why you started that business, was it something you always wanted to do or out of necessity?

This is something I always wanted to do! I started on a framing crew then moved on to a finishing crew when I was younger. I was fortunate enough to meet a great cabinetmaker who taught me his skills. I worked for 3 cabinetmakers before I decided I wanted to work for myself.

Do you work with reclaimed or recovered wood?

No, I don’t use reclaimed or recovered wood. I do a lot of historic reproduction work though using new materials.

What is your preference, joinery or nails and screws?

I prefer joinery to nails and screws because that’s the way they did it back in the day and the way I feel it still should be done! It’s more authentic.

What is the worst woodworking injury you sustained?

A table saw cut my thumb. Reason: It was sitting on the floor, not a TABLE. Lesson learned!

Do you display your work or is everything custom?

Everything is custom. I have several designers and architects who hire me to do custom work and I do work for a lot of individuals and local businesses as well.

Do you have a website?

No website, but I’m trying to use my Instagram as a web landing page.

What is the most sentimental piece you’ve ever made?

A cradle I made for my daughter and my 7 grandkids. I made it because I knew it would be passed down. It’s made out of cherry wood and hand carved.

What is your favorite thing about Bristol?

I was born and raised here and I know everyone! My entire family lives here too so I see them all the time.

My favorite pieces are the cradle, the custom bunk bed and the custom door.

Please stop over and follow Richard on Instagram and check out some more of his amazing pieces.

https://instagram.com/ravcabinetmaker

 I came across this article and thought it was so important.

Why We Should Bring Back Vocational Training in Schools…

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholaswyman/2015/09/01/why-we-desperately-need-to-bring-back-vocational-training-in-schools/

Keep it positive and powerful,

Doreen

Writing Wednesday

Wednesday is the day I share what I have learned on my journey from writing to publication, marketing and writing and publishing again. If you have any questions please feel free to leave them in the comments and I will do my best to answer them. If you have any tips please share them with us in the comment section.

Preparing for a Writers Conference

As writers one of the best investments we can make in our business/career is to attend as many conferences and workshops as we can afford. To get the most out of our investment we need to be prepared.

Have you followed all of the presenters, agents, the event itself and other attendees on social media? Learn as much as you can about each of them. You might be able to pick up a conversation starter that can break the ice. They might even remember something witty that you tweeted.

Bring plenty of business cards, pens and a notebook. When someone hands you a business card jot a note on the back of it, something to help you remember who the person was.  Do not bring written pitches to hand out.

Prepare your pitch. Can you describe your manuscript in two to three sentences? Describe yourself and your book in ninety-seconds? This is the single most important thing you can do for yourself. Prepare that pitch and practice, practice, practice.

Dress appropriately. Agents and editors are professionals and they are looking for professional writers. You don’t have to suit up but I would say wear your best business casual.

Don’t monopolize an agents time. Everyone is there to meet them. They will not remember you favorably if you are a conversation hog. They want to meet everyone. Keep the ninety-second rule in mind and practice!

No matter where you are in your writing process there is always something to learn. Take the time to listen.

Relax, smile, socialize, make new writer friends and have fun!

Who is going to the Philadelphia Writer’s Conference?

http://pwcwriters.org/why-the-philadelphia-writers-conference/2015-workshops-and-events/

I hope to see you there!

Happy Writing,

Doreen

The Stranger in My Recliner has a cover. It’s almost a real book!

Writing Wednesday

Writing/Critique Groups  and  Writing Classes/Workshops

A good writing and or critique group can be such a good resource for writers no matter where they are in their writing process. These groups are the best place to receive constructive, honest criticism from people who expect the same in return.

Writing classes and workshops are also good resources. The business of publishing is evolving rapidly so no matter where you are in your writing, classes and or workshops are a good place to keep up to date with those changes. They are also a safe place to receive honest feedback and advice from like minded people.

If your family is like mine it has members that love and are proud of everything you do and members that are critical of everything you do. It is much wiser to get feedback for your writing from other writers.

Writing is such a solitary process. For most of us it can be extremely difficult to step out of our safe writing caves and share our work with others but it is a necessary process and so worth it if we want to be the best writer’s we can be.

On- line writing groups and workshops are good for education and inspiration but in -real -life groups are the best place to socialize and are invaluable when it comes to promotion.

Members of a good group or class will keep you educated and motivated.

Where do you find these classes and groups? Most community colleges offer a variety of writing, publishing and marketing classes. In local newspapers you might be able to find a workshop.

Writing groups can be found by doing a Google search of your town and writing group. You can also find groups on the Meet-Up sight.

You may have to visit a few groups before you find one that fits. I suggest giving the group a chance by visiting two or three times before making a decision.

If you can’t find a group that seems to be a perfect fit for you, start one!

I belong to two-writing groups. One group meets every Wednesday at a, Panera Bread. It’s an- hour drive for me but I love the group so the drive is worth it. I am so grateful to, Kelly the facilitator of the group. She is a talented writer and blogger and a friend. The members of the group are so positive and supportive and that is because of Kelly’s leadership.

Do you belong to a group? Have you taken any classes or attended a workshop recently? What did you take-away from them?

Happy writing,

Doreen

For a little inspiration, visit:

http://kellydeeny.com/2015/05/23/petals-of-appreciation-campaign-memorial-day/

Today’s post is part of the annual A-to-Z Blogging Challenge. Each day of April (except Sunday,) we write a post corresponding with that day’s letter of the alphabet. For more information on the challenge and its creator visit:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com

My theme for this years’ A-Z Challenge is An Intimate Look at the Homeless and Mental Health Epidemic in America which just happens to be the subtitle of my next book, The Stranger in My Recliner. The book is the true story of Sophie.  She was the eighty-year-old homeless woman that my husband brought home one night. She lived with us for nearly three –years. The book will be out this fall.

VICTIM

21-year-old, Daequon Norman is a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. He’s must use a wheelchair and has no verbal communication skills. Sometime during the first week of April Daequon’s mother, Nyia Parler walked him, in his wheel chair into the woods. She proceeded to dump him out of the wheel chair, cover him with a blanket and give him a bible. Then she turned her back and walked away. She went to Maryland to spend the week with her boyfriend.

On the night of April 10th, Fitzroy Anderson spotted two dear and followed them down a trail. He discovered Daequon and called 911.

Parler checked herself into the hospital in Maryland where she stayed for more than a week for an undisclosed …

Daequon remains in the hospital.

Parler was released from the hospital, arrested and extradited to Philadelphia where she was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, neglect of a care-dependent person, unlawful restraint, kidnapping and false imprisonment.

She remains in jail unable to post 2.5 million dollars bail.

For a minute I felt sorry for the mother. Having a child with special needs is a 24/7 extremely difficult job with very little down time. The child does not ‘grow-up’ and go to college. There is no empty nest.

I have a grandson with special-needs. He is all I could think of when I read about what happened to Daequon. My daughter and son-in-law work very hard to keep a support system together and to keep their relationship strong. They amaze me.

Services and support were available to Nyia and her son. Actually receiving those services is a nightmare full of hoops to jump through. She made a choice not to do the jumping.

I don’t feel sorry for Nyia anymore. What do you think?

Thank you for reading,

Doreen

I’m one of Lisa’s Live Wires! Lisa is a challenge co-host Lisa Buie-Collard

My fellow live wires:

Rhonda Albom –   Bob R. Milne –   Tamera Narayan –  Stephanie Faris –   Heather McCubbin –   Randi Lee

Today’s post is part of the annual A-to-Z Blogging Challenge. Each day of April (except Sunday,) we write a post corresponding with that day’s letter of the alphabet. For more information on the challenge and its creator visit:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com

My theme for this years’ A-Z Challenge is An Intimate Look at the Homeless and Mental Health Epidemic in America which just happens to be the subtitle of my next book, The Stranger in My Recliner. The book is the true story of Sophie.  She was the eighty-year-old homeless woman that my husband brought home one night. She lived with us for nearly three –years. The book will be out this fall.

Pawning off our elderly and mentally ill…

Not that long ago, as a society we locked away our family members that were deemed mentally ill, developmentally challenged or sickly and elderly. We locked them far away from the rest of us and our civilized society. We put them in dark, cold asylums. In the 1500’s prior to having actual asylums to commit them to they were put on asylum ships.  Back then these were known as the ships of fools. These ships roamed the seas and stopped from port to port only to pick up supplies and more fools. Can you imagine who the people were that they hired to work on those ships? I am quite sure they were plucked from the crop of the least employable. Some of the workers were lifelong criminals. They were given the chance to be sentenced to the prison ship or to work on the ship of fools. Why not get rid of two of society’s ills on one ship.

Some families, although very few back then kept their feebleminded relatives locked away in the attics or the basements of their own homes for their entire lifetimes to protect them and to keep them safe from the horrors of those ships and asylums.

During the 1600 and 1700’s the practice of exiling our mentally ill from ordinary society continued. The purpose of this treatment was to remove and isolate the less desirable from society, rather than to try curing them or at least trying to help them with their symptoms. It wasn’t until the early 1900’s that a more compassionate attitude towards the mentally ill started to emerge but isolation was still the ‘normal’ treatment.

During the 1950’s most of the country’s state hospitals were ordered closed and they literally opened the doors and let everyone out. Homelessness was born.

Today’s post is part of the annual A-to-Z Blogging Challenge. Each day of April (except Sunday,) we write a post corresponding with that day’s letter of the alphabet. For more information on the challenge and its creator visit:

Women started to enter the workforce around that time too. This left no one to care for aging parents so instead of asylums they built nursing homes. They built beautiful ‘assisted’ living facilities and led us to believe our parents would be well taken care of.

They are not being well taken care of at all. I spend a lot of time working in these facilities. Recently I have been working in the most ‘expensive’ facility in the area. I have seen an elderly man fall and lay on the floor moaning for twenty-minutes before somebody arrived to assist him. The nurse yelled at him. He was sent to the hospital and never returned.

The aides put elderly people on the toilet and leave them sitting for 15-20 minutes sometimes an hour. My client was so tired of sitting she went to get up and fell. They picked her up, put her in her wheel chair and left her alone in her room for 2-hours. I put ice on her bruises and demanded an ambulance, immediately.  I believe it was because ‘the State’ was in the building investigating cases of neglect and they did not want them to see a case first hand.

They are SO lucky she is going to be okay. No they really aren’t lucky because I am on a mission now to see that the management is fired, again. It just happened, 7-months ago. The corruption returned fast.

If one of your loved ones is in one of these facilities please visit often and at odd hours. Your loved one is most likely not going to complain. You have to look for other signs. Bruises, weight loss and depression are definitely a sign something is off.

Ask to see the nursing reports, medications sheets and even the aide’s logs of when they were taken to the bathroom, had their positions changed and what they ate. Learn who the facilities ombudsman (the mediator) is so you don’t have to ask when something does go wrong.

Are you caring for an elderly relative? Have you had a bad or a good experience with a nursing, rehabilitation or assisted living facility?

Thank you for reading,

Doreen

I’m one of Lisa’s Live Wires! Lisa is a challenge co-host Lisa Buie-Collard

My fellow live wires:

Rhonda Albom –   Bob R. Milne –   Tamera Narayan –  Stephanie Faris –   Heather McCubbin –   Randi Lee

Welcome to my blog and today’s post which is part of the annual A-to-Z Blogging Challenge. For more information on the challenge and its creator visit:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com

My theme this year is: An Intimate Look at the Homeless and Mental Health Epidemic in America, which is the subtitle of my next book, The Stranger In My Recliner. 

Churches and the homeless

America’s churches offer a wide variety of services to support the nation’s homeless. Just south of Philadelphia where I live the churches coordinate services. A different church each day provides dinner and a place to warm up. Congregants provide a hot meal, blankets, clothing and other supplies. Once they have been given a hot meal and some supplies, the homeless are sent back out onto the streets.

What confuses me is how the homeless keep track of what church is doing what each night and how do they get from one church to another. Living in a neighborhood that has three churches within walking distance I understand the complaints of residents. We have found drugs in our front yard, had our cars keyed and broken into, witnessed fights and more.

A few years-ago a church in Portland Oregon offered its’ parking lot for people that were sleeping in their cars. Neighbors worried about increased noise, trash and crime.

Churches in suburbs and cities across the country run soup kitchens.

A church in San Francisco installed a sprinkler system to keep the homeless from sleeping on their grounds. People were outraged that a church could be so cruel. It is a problem plaguing the country’s churches. How do they protect residents and still be compassionate to those in need.

In Virginia a church with acreage offered land to be used as a tent city. The surrounding community supported the idea bringing in a nurse, volunteers, meals and supplies.

Most people want to be loving, giving and caring to those in need, they just want to do it anywhere but in their own neighborhood.

Wouldn’t it make more sense for each church to donate a year’s rent and a social worker to a homeless person or family? If the churches can manage to coordinate a dinner chain, jump through permit hoops to open their parking lots to campers and build a tent city I am positive they would have no trouble working together to support homes for the homeless.

What services do the churches in your area provide for the homeless?

Happy A-Z’ing,

Doreen

For this years A-Z I am a minion for the lovely co-host : Lisa Buie-Collard

Meet the other minions:

Rhonda Albom –   Bob R. Milne –   Tamera Narayan  –   Stephanie Faris –   Heather McCubbin –   Randi Lee –

Writing Wednesday

Wednesday is the day I share what I have learned on my journey to publication, marketing and publishing again. If you have any questions please feel free to leave them in the comments and I will do my best to answer them.

Production Gone Wrong

A few months ago I started receiving request from book reviewers and also had a few requests from non profits to donate copies of my first book Bristol boyz Stomp. I was excited because until then either myself, or my publicist requested reviews.

My publisher sent me a shipment of books and I sent them out to the reviewers and non profits. I also sent a few copies to social media friends.

Last weekend I was invited to attend an event at an assisted living facility and was also asked to sign copies of my book.

While at the event my 14-year-old granddaughter was proud to show an elderly resident where her picture was in the book. Her picture wasn’t there. Other photos were missing too. We quickly went through the other books and each one of them was defective. I was so embarrassed. So many copies had been given out. Were the defective copies being sold at book stores, Amazon, Walmart? I was so angry.

I worked so hard on that book. I had it professionally edited three times. My publisher had it edited again. How could this have happened? Was it bad karma because I refuse to review badly or unedited books?

Perhaps it was one irresponsible worker at my publisher or one person at the printing facility. Was it my fault for not checking the books before I sent them out? I assumed they would be exactly the same as every other shipment I received.

My marketing rep and my publisher promised to make it right immediately and I was grateful for that but can it ever be made right? I love my publisher and this was the first issue I have had with them in three-years. They are handling it professionally doing their best to make me feel better but oh how I wish they would go back to the old printer and quality assurance.

Lesson learned: Check everything and never assume anything. As writers we work so hard to earn our credibility. It’s bad enough when we make our own mistakes but when someone else is responsible for the error it can be crushing to our confidence. I most certainly will never send another book out without checking it first. I should at least have Louie check it for me, he is the best editor…

If you received one of those copies I am so sorry. Consider it a collector’s item, there are only fifty copies out there (I hope and pray.) If you would like a corrected copy please let me know.

Please help me feel better and tell me, has anything like this ever happened to you? What was your most embarrassing editing or non-editing error?

Keep writing,

Doreen

I would love to connect with you here too:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bristol-boyzStomp/113804488656243

http://www.twitter.com/doreenb8

Writing Wednesday

On Wednesdays I like to share information I picked up on my journey to being published, marketing my first book, editing and preparing to be published again. Information that I wish someone would have shared with me, back then…

If you like the information I hope you will share it!

Writer’s Conferences

For someone who spends most of their life surrounded by four walls either in front of a computer screen or with their head buried in one book after another, venturing outside of those cozy, boxy walls can be frightening. The thought of leaving our comfort zones to attend a writer’s conference in person with other actual human beings can be as uncomfortable as fingernails on a chalkboard.

Just registering to attend a writer’s conference can be expensive. When you add on classes or workshops, dinner events, travel expenses, hotels and meals the costs can quickly make attending a financial struggle.

Are these conferences worth attending?

My opinion is yes, absolutely.

If you have chosen or you are considering choosing writing as a career, writing is your business. For any type of business to be successful there must be investments made in that business.

Reasons to attend:

• You will get first hand information from publishers, editors and agents that you will be able to use immediately to further your writing career.
• To learn the latest publishing trends and other information about the business side of writing and publishing.
• The opportunity to meet with and pitch literary agents in person, they attend conferences looking for talent.
• A chance to network with other writers some will be ahead of you in their careers and some will be behind you.
• Learn about freelance opportunities.
• Be inspired by your peers, the presenters and the speakers.
• Social media is a good tool for writers but face to face communication with other writers, people who ‘get’ you is priceless.
• Because we writers spend so much time alone the face to face communication with like minded souls at a conference is priceless.
• The thought of attending can be intimidating especially if you are shy but if you can push yourself out of your comfort zone for just a few days you will make valuable contacts, gain experience, acquire knowledge and make lifelong friends.

*If you are not going to make the effort to speak to and get to know people, to put yourself out there and network then I wouldn’t spend the money to attend.*

To prepare for a conference you should have plenty of business cards made. Postcards are also good handouts and great for promoting your blog. If you have a finished manuscript, make several copies of the manuscript, several copies of your query and several of your proposal. You never know who you may run in to, in the hall. You should also practice your elevator speech, three sentences on what your book is about, a beginning middle and an end because you never know who may be riding the elevator with you. Dress comfortably but professionally.

Before you attend look up and learn as much as you can about the facilitators of any workshops or break-out sessions you are planning to attend. Write down any questions you have for them. Look up any agents, who will be attending, learn what genres they represent, a bit about their agency and who they represent. Check to see if any of your social media or blog friends are attending and make plans to meet-up with them.

Find out if the conference is holding any contests. These are usually planned well in advance, so check early and enter!

If you feel like you are too shy to get anything out of the conference take a friend with you.

If the cost is just too prohibitive for you to attend a big conference look into writing workshops being held in your area. Check your local universities or community colleges they often offer community learning opportunities that are affordable.

If you happen to live in the Philadelphia, South Jersey or Delaware area the Press Club of Pa. is offering a series of workshops for writers. The cost is only $25.00. There is more information on these workshops at the end of this post.

A List of some Writers Conferences:

https://www.awpwriter.org

https://sfwriters.org/2015

www.pikespeakwriters.com/ppwc

writersconference.com

www.unicornwritersconference.com

www.mounthermon.org/event/361

caldreaminwritersconf.org

lasvegaswritersconference.com

www.svwc.com/uncategorized/dates-for-svwc-2015

nonfictionwritersconference.com/2015-nonfiction-writers–conference

newyorkpitchconference.com

writersdigestconference.com

www.sbwriters.com

pwcwriters.org

Find more here:http://www.shawguides.com

1. Look good, feel good
2. How to interact at networking events
3. Building confidence/ self esteem
4. The best look for your business from store windows, social media, advertising, letterhead, employees and you…

After the workshop a fashion show on business wear and accessories for men and women. A business accessory fashion show, brief cases, laptop bags, letterhead, business cards, promotional products and more. Networking with stylists, printers and Club Representatives.

November 22, 2014 Workshop 3: How to Get Your Business, Book, Product, Service, Event or Non-Profit in the News, Part 1    

1. Become an expert in your field
2. Write a pitch
3. Pitch the right person
4. What to do when you get the call from a producer

Networking with media professionals, producers, editors and Press Club Representatives.

January 24, 2015 Workshop 4: Marketing/Advertising/Public Relations

1. What is the difference among the three and how to make them work together for your business, product, service, book, non-profit and more.
2. How to write an advertising plan
3. How to write a PR plan
4. Types of advertising: print, radio, TV, internet, social media

Networking after the workshop with Marketing, Advertising and P.R. Professionals and Press Club Representatives. February 28, 2015 Workshop 5: How the News Works

1. The state of Journalism today
2. How to recognize News vs. Opinion
3. Processing the News
4. Entertainment/Tabloid/ Shock and why it sells
5. The Internet, Social Media, Cable TV and how they have changed the news

After the workshop questions and answers with a panel of journalists, TV news, radio and Press Club Representatives. March 28, 2015 Workshop 6: Part 2 of Get your business etc…in the news. Come on back and practice your Polished Pitch to Radio, Newspaper, T.V, and Magazine

1. Quick refresher
2. Have your pitch critiqued by professionals
3. Prizes for different categories? Best dressed, best pitch, best presentation and more.

After the workshop networking with the professionals and Press Club Representatives.

April 25, 2015 Workshop 5: Writing Workshops

1. Writing process, genres, your audience
2. Editing, critique partners, writing groups
3. Creating a platform/niche/ building a tribe
4. Publishing today
5. How and when to submit your manuscript
6. Memoir writing; record your history

After the workshop: questions and answers with a panel of published authors, Press Club Representatives, Publishing Professionals, Editors and more…

May 23, 2015 Workshop 8: Book Fair – 10:00 am – 3:00 pm a whole day event!

1. Author panels/ presentations with local authors
2. Library Presentation
3. Book store presentations
4. Local Book Clubs
5. Author Readings and Panel

                                       My Writing Process…

Thank you to Kim Tackett for inviting me to share my writing process. It has been so interesting to read the process of some of my favorite writers. You can read Kim’s writing process here:

http://www.fiftyfiftyvision.com

Why do I write what I write?  

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