Randy Susan Meyers's Blog, page 2

Tithing for Planned Parenthood

  Fiction is for escape; fiction teaches empathy. In every book, I work to put the story first (“the gotta know”—as per Stephen King’s instructions) while imbuing it with the times that mark the characters. Like the cast of The Many Mothers of Ivy Puddingstone, which goes on sale October 29, 2024, we live in fraught times. ... Read more

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Tithing Myself for Planned Parenthood

  Fiction is for escape; fiction teaches empathy. In every book, I work to put the story first (“the gotta know”—as per Stephen King’s instructions) while imbuing it with the times that mark the characters. Like the cast of The Many Mothers of Ivy Puddingstone, which goes on sale October 29, 2024, we live in fraught times. ... Read more

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Cover Reveal for THE MANY MOTHERS OF IVY PUDDINGSTONE!

  How could I capture my new novel in one cover? Not that it was my job—but when the warm, welcoming cover designer at my publisher asked me for ideas, the frustrated faux artist in me dove into Canva with the abandon of a kindergartener with fingerpaint. I’m sure all authors feel this way about ... Read more

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5 (Doable) Bits of Life Advice from an Almost-Crone

  1.     Sunscreen every day. Even cloudy days. Even when you are never leaving the house. Do you not have windows? 2.     Search for work that you love. 3.     Floss. Floss. Floss. 4.     Search for love that doesn’t require daily work. This one is from my grandmother. On her 98th birthday, I asked Grandma for her ... Read more

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5 (PDoable) Bits of Life Advice from an Almost-Crone

  1.     Sunscreen every day. Even cloudy days. Even when you are never leaving the house. Do you not have windows? 2.     Search for work that you love. 3.     Floss. Floss. Floss. 4.     Search for love that doesn’t require daily work. This one is from my grandmother. On her 98th birthday, I asked Grandma for her ... Read more

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Mothers & Daughters: Pushing and Pulling

Ah, the picture above—was it taken mid-eye-roll at my junior high school graduation? I never met a book by Ruth Reichl I haven’t loved, and my adoration continued with  Not Becoming My Mother (retitled for the paperback as For You Mom, Finally), a deceptively simple snack. (I’m certain that Ms. Reichl, editor of Gourmet Magazine, ... Read more

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Five Not-Expensive, Not Cutesy Wonderful Mothers-Day (All Days!) Gifts

Shopping for Mother’s Day: difficult, expensive, typical (flowers! perfume! chocolates!) presents? Receiving presents? Yay!!! Stealing ideas? Smart. Below are some of the best (ethical, small business, useful, uber-pleasing) presents my family found for me. Gardening Overalls from Duluth Trading Co. Yes, I am in love with these. Pockets? Do you want pockets? Zipped pockets for ... Read more

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Does Worrying About Scales & Hair Right Now Make Me Horrible?

 Unless one’s made of stone and iron, having written a novel based on extreme body-shaming & how the eyes of others scorch women must change one, yes? Pair that with compiling an anthology titled Women Under Scrutiny, and voila, the perfect storm for facing personal crucibles.* Though examining ‘knowing one’s character’s crucible**’ is paramount, delving into my personal albatrosses is ... Read more

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Making Invisible Kids Visible

Being invisible is pretty hard for a kid. Crummy childhoods take many forms; usually, it’s an amalgam of yuck. Smacks and screams thankfully have a time limit, but neglect is the gift that never stops. Even the most benign neglect—like being a latchkey kid—can foster loneliness. When trouble fills a family, kids are pushed to ... Read more

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How to Adventure Without Leaving the Couch

Hint: It’s Books Stories of survival fill me with shivery delight. I rarely meet a story of man/woman vs. elements that won’t keep me up until all hours. Heartpounding adventure stories are, no doubt, one of my favorite sub-genres. And yes, I am the most fearful of creatures. I’ve never skied, but I will explode ... Read more

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