A Muse in my Pocket

 

I got a great surprise in the mail today a book. Not just any book but one called The Pocket Muse… ideas & inspirations for writing. It came in the nick of time as I have a large plate to deal with lately. The clever and wonderfully designed book by Monica Wood looks like a wonderful way to get juices flowing and better yet came as a total surprise. It came from out of the blue from an old friend I haven’t been in touch with for quite awhile. It also reminded me that not all communication is via email and Facebook, the good old US Post has its place. Even the publisher Writer’s Digest brought back memories of when I began, I read their magazine constantly. Thanks dear old friend for finding things out and following a lost tradition, looking forward to getting the mail. Now I’ll try using a telephone again, one that is a land-line!

Transitions Abroad, Remembered

It was sad to learn that Transitions Abroad will no longer have a print edition; TA has a place in my heart forever. The first travel article I wrote was published in Transitions Abroad, self- cruising the Shannon River. I was so green and only knew that I loved to travel and wanted to write, TA gave me the chance. I will never forget the excitement when Clay Hubbs contacted me a bit later to see if I was interested in being the contributing editor for independent travel. I was for a few years and remember when TA went into stores like Barnes & Nobles, god was I jazzed! I also met a guy named Max Hartshorne when he pulled a stint as a managing editor there, Max and I have been connected for years after with GoNOMAD.com. I have also met several TA writers over the years such as Tim Leffel. For those reasons alone I am grateful for my experience with Transitions Abroad.
I just purchased the new TA yesterday at B&A not knowing it was the last, not till I read World Hum tonight did I know. The founder Clay Hubbs passed on awhile back and I just hope he realized what Transitions Abroad meant to those he touched it certainly touched me. Fortunately the online version remains, as it should, I hope it keeps a worthy tradition for the future. I am sure it will.
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/
http://www.worldhum.com/