I truly believe that no one writes alone. There’s all the teachers, the mentors, the friends, coaches, readers, and editors. Those are just some of the resources. Then, there’s procuring a space within which to write, something that many of us need assistance with. For me, there’s also a limitless supplies of candles—a tip from Diana Gabaldon, a frequent visitor to the stellar Surrey International Writer’s Conference (close to where I live). Before writing, I light a candle (from Hank’s Garden or the Shaw General Store), and sometimes the wood-burning stove, as well.
This book would not have happened without the expert editing and advice of Rose Engelfried, PhD student in the Claremont Graduate University, who is a masterful writer. You can read about her Department here. As I write in the Bianca’s Cure acknowledgements, “Lastly, I thank Rose Engelfried, a strong and tireless reading and editing presence throughout this project. Every writer needs a meticulous, creative editor like Rose.”
I also recognize in these occasional blogs on “Gigi’s partners” the talented podcaster and award-winning photographer, AJ Barse, who draws inspiration primarily from the natural beauty of the Cascadian region, “to understand how [digital] creativity, [analog] exploration, and the passage of time impact our experiences and perspectives in life.” AJ produced my author’s photo and the banner for my website, and brought his recording and other technical expertise to the early Bianca’s Cure audio files.
