DL: The following article was posted on Nina Amir’s blog howtoblogabook.com as part of my virtual book tour for the Memoir Network Writing Series. I am now working on books three and four of the series. If you have a blog and would be willing to host me, I would love to make a stop at your site. What a blogged book needs What could be an easier process to write a new book than to go to my Memoir Writers’ Blog, pullout some articles on the same topic, and put them together? After all, I had read How To (more…)

As I write this, it is winter here in Maine. Yesterday, I went ice skating and remembered so fondly many skating experiences in my life—especially my young life. Here is a story of a day spend on the ice from a half century ago. For more stories about my high school years, click here. — One morning, when the sun promised to be bright and the sky clear, as we sat down to breakfast at refectory tables, on a day that seemed to be a day just like every other day in January, Father Guy would announce, “Aujourd’hui, c’est un (more…)

Is telling the truth in a memoir essential? In this post, I am sending a link to a thought-provoking memoir review which was published recently in the Buffalo, NY, News. The review questions the veracity of Coming Ashore, a new memoir by Catherine McClure Gildiner. I quote briefly to whet your appetite. “I think a reader and a writer enter into almost a kind of a contractual understanding, and it starts with the genre,” said Mick Cochrane, a professor of English and director of the creative writing program at Canisius College. “If you call a book a memoir, the understanding (more…)

I have to admit that I felt the book launch jitters as my book Don’t Let Writer’s Block Stop You went out into the world in 2014. On Kindle Select Don’t Let Writer’s Block Stop You was in December of that year available as a free download as part of Amazon’s Kindle Select outreach. (It is still there and I would love it if you wrote a review of it. If you would like to do so, drop me a line and I will send you a review copy.) As a book coach and editor who has worked with writers (more…)

We’d like to offer our congratulations to Libby Atwater whose memoir What Lies Within recently placed first in the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards in their Biography/Memoir category. Due to our interest in Libby, we are including here her publisher’s release. Well done, Libby! Interviews with Libby ran earlier. Click here for the first and here for the second. What Lies Within Wins Royal Dragonfly Book Award CHANDLER, AZ (November 2014)—The judges of the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards contest, which recognizes excellence in literature, have spoken. What Lies Within by Libby J. Atwater won First Place in the Biography/Memoir category. “Winning (more…)

Here’s a recent discussion we had with Libby Atwater who began telling people’s stories professionally after a career in education. As a writer and editor, she has worked for individuals, families, businesses, nonprofits, universities, and community newspapers. Tales from her life have been published in several anthologies. Her memoir What Lies Within covers her first twenty-one years. We asked her about her story and about learning how to write a memoir Denis Ledoux: How and why did you choose to write this memoir?Libby Atwater: I wanted to tell the story of my early years for a long time to show (more…)

Here’s the second half of my recent discussion with Libby Atwater who began telling people’s stories professionally after a career in education. As a writer and editor, she has worked for individuals, families, businesses, nonprofits, universities, and community newspapers. Tales from her life have been published in several anthologies. Her memoir What Lies Within covers her first twenty-one years. Click here for Part 1 of this interview. Denis Ledoux: Will you write another memoir? Why or why not? If so, what is your book’s topic? Libby Atwater: I have three sequels in progress: Out Into the World, which covers my (more…)

Collect memories at my fiftieth class reunion

Last weekend—and a warm sunny three days it turned out to be—I spent, as I had written that I would in the last newsletter, with those of my high school classmates who could attend our fiftieth high-school reunion. Some of us had not seen each other in 30 years—not since our 20th class reunion—while one had not been with us in 50 years. Needless to say…

We had changed. The skinny boys we had been had become older white-haired men—except for on man who was mysteriously still dark-haired. Through the wrinkles and the few extra pounds (we were actually quite a fit group), it was uncanny how it seemed to me we had kept some essence of identity intact. The boys I had spent so many years with were there once again with me. I recognize the boys I had known transformed into thoughtful and kind men that I felt so much affection for. We spoke about our years in the seminary high school, our now-grown-up children, our life’s work which had occupied the middle decades of our lives, our goals and aspirations for the years that remained. (more…)

This weekend of September 26-28, 2014, I am reuniting with my high school classmates. We have not seen each other in 30 years—not since our 20th class reunion. I am excited about being with those of my classmates who are able to attend. First, because, as boys, we lived 24/7 together: classes, meals, sports, dormitory. We were a small group (15 graduates), and speaking for myself (but perhaps this is true for everyone), we developed an intimacy and an affection for each other that someone attending a regular high school cannot have experienced with classmates they saw for 5-6 hours (more…)

A Blogged Book Has to Be Greater than the Sum of Its Posts

By Denis Ledoux

What could be an easier process to write a new book than to go to my Memoir Writers’ Blog, pullout some articles on the same topic, and put them together? After all, I had read How To Blog Your Book by Nina Amir, a helpful book that inspired and guided me in the composition of […]

Another Bucksport Story—An Ice Holiday

By Denis Ledoux

One morning, when the sun promised to be bright and the sky clear, as we sat down to breakfast at refectory tables, on a day that seemed to be a day just like every other day in January, Father Guy would announce, “Aujourd’hui, c’est un congé de glace [Today, we are having an ice holiday].” […]

Telling The Truth In A Memoir

By Denis Ledoux

“If you call a book a memoir, the understanding is that to the best of your knowledge the facts, and what can be verifiable, are the truth. …” (more…)

Jitters Over Don’t Let Writer’s Block Stop You Launch

By Denis Ledoux

I have felt the book jitters as my new book Don’t Let Writer’s Block Stop You has gone out into the world. My anxiety is under control, but it remains a low-level anxiety. Were I to give in to it, I would be succumbing to a version of the writer’s block—the one that postpones publication—and […]

Congratulations to Libby Atwater

By Denis Ledoux

What Lies Within by Libby Atwater won First Place in the Biography/Memoir category.What Lies Within is a tale of adoption, love, loss, hope, and resilience set in the 1950s and 1960s. (more…)

How to Write a Memoir – An Interview with Libby Atwater, Part 1

By Denis Ledoux

How to Write a Memoir – An Interview with Libby Atwater, Part 2

By Denis Ledoux

Feedback on “Collect Memories at My Fiftieth Class Reunion”

By Denis Ledoux

Collect memories at my fiftieth class reunion Last weekend—and a warm sunny three days it turned out to be—I spent, as I had written that I would in the last newsletter, with those of my my high school classmates who could attend our fiftieth high-school reunion. Some of us had not seen each other in […]

Collecting Memories at My Class Reunion

By Denis Ledoux

This weekend of September 26-28, 2014, I am reuniting with my high school classmates. We have not seen each other in 30 years—not since our 20th class reunion. Back then, we developed an intimacy and an affection for each other that someone attending a regular high school cannot have experienced with classmates they saw for […]