Category Archives: Joanne Guidoccio

#TeaserTuesday: Hippie Mermaid

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

In this excerpt from my new release, Hippie Mermaid, Aunt Lina advises Rosina to leave the Mediterranean Kingdom.

Enjoy!

A smile crept up on Aunt Lina’s face. “We have seven days to captivate your human.”

“What…How?”

“I heard all about the excursion from the Ettas,” Aunt Lina said. “They couldn’t stop talking about the attention you received from those four men. And that, my dear Rosina, is why Annabella is determined to get rid of you. She doesn’t want any reminders of a competition she didn’t win.”

“But I wasn’t competing. I said nothing and let the others pick their humans.”

“Ah, but the humans wanted you. And the one called Blake was not too happy when Annabella claimed him.” Aunt Lina spoke more briskly, “You made a good impression. You stayed much longer than the others, and you risked your life for a man.”

I shook my head. “I forgot about the time.”

“Something you cannot afford to do when you go up there tomorrow night.”

“I can’t go up there.”

“Did La Bella forbid you?”

“No, but I don’t want to upset her any further.”

“If she has mentioned Crete, she has already decided. You need to find a way out of this disaster. Go up there each night until you connect with the human. Persuade him to take you with him. If a human desires you, La Bella will not interfere.”

I tried to recall scattered bits of the conversation with Lloyd. At one point, he did mention wanting to take me with him, but there was uncertainty in his voice. He already had issues with the two women in his life.

“Cry,” Aunt Lina advised. “Humans cannot handle our tears. And if necessary, beg him to take you away.”

“His life is already complicated.”

“And yours is not?” Aunt Lina grabbed my shoulders. “This human is your only way out of this mess.”

Buy Links

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Release Day – Hippie Mermaid

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Hippie Mermaid is officially available today!

Blurb

From sea to shore, betrayal follows her wherever she goes.

On Christmas Eve, psychic Kendra Adams reveals the secret she’s hidden for decades—she was once Rosina, a mermaid torn between sea and shore. Betrayed in her ocean kingdom and desperate to escape banishment, she persuades a politician to smuggle her into the human world. But freedom on land comes at a cost, as she soon finds herself ensnared in another web, this one spun by the politician’s power-hungry sister.

Excerpt

The human laughter startled me. It sounded so foreign, unlike anything I had ever heard before. I followed the sounds and turned my gaze toward four large humans approaching us. Up close, they were frightening, almost menacing, in their dark garments. I took note of their varying appearances. Two had light brown hair and blue eyes, while the other pair sported dark hair and dark eyes. Intent on observing the darker pair, I didn’t notice the other two men eyeing me.

“Hippie mermaid!” yelled one of the men with light-colored features.

All the men glanced in my direction. I felt myself reddening as I met their liquid eyes and wide smiles. There was interest there, and some other emotion or feeling I had never seen before. For a split second, I was flattered by their attention. And then I recalled what Mama had said. I must let Annabella choose first.

Annabella did not give me a chance to react. She beckoned to the man who had spoken, and he reluctantly turned away from me. Rosetta claimed the other light-haired man, and Lisetta chose one of the dark-haired men. I watched as they moved to separate rocks along the shore.

The remaining man approached. As his features came into closer focus, I realized he was older than the others. Not by much, but there were white hairs sprinkled in the darkness, and his face crinkled as he smiled. “I guess I won this mermaid lottery.”

My eyes widened in surprise.

He laughed and shook his head. “You could have had any of us. You didn’t have to end up with me.”

“But I’m not a Bella or an Etta. I’m an Ina.” There was no point hiding my rank. I had never been embarrassed by it, and after hearing about Aunt Lina’s punishment, I knew my place.

“Honey, I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re the prettiest of the group. You just don’t know it yet.”

Buy Links

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New Release – Just Say Yes

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m thrilled to announce the release of Just Say Yes, the latest book in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. My story, “Worth a Try,” was selected as one of the 101 stories for this publication.

About the Anthology

Try new things, overcome your fears, and broaden your world. You’ll feel empowered, emboldened, and energized when you step outside your comfort zone and Just Say Yes!

Just Say Yes! Say “YES” to what challenges you. Say “YES” to facing your fears. Say “YES” to reinventing yourself. Say “YES” to a more exciting and bigger world. Whether it’s something little—like trying a new food—or something big—like traveling to a far away country—we feel empowered when we say YES. You can do it! And the entertaining, personal accounts in these 101 stories will give you motivation and inspiration you need. All you have to do is say “YES.”

Excerpt from Worth a Try

Each morning, I faced the tyranny of the blank page. Everything was in place—business cards, a new computer, and dreams of a runaway bestseller. Unfortunately, my underdeveloped writing muscles refused to cooperate.

A fellow writer said, “You need to shake up your life.”

Creating an oasis of calm had been one of my retirement goals—a reward, or so I believed, for surviving three decades of teaching adolescents. I enjoyed my luncheon dates, yoga sessions, and uninterrupted blocks of reading time. Did I really want to shake up my life? I was stuck, though. So maybe it was worth a try.

Friends offered several suggestions, including signing up for kickboxing, running a marathon, and joining a local theater group. While considering the kickboxing option, I noticed an invitation from Royal City Toastmasters in the local newspaper. I sent a quick e-mail informing the contact person that I would be attending their next meeting.

Several times, I contemplated canceling but talked myself out of it. A bit apprehensive before arriving, I relaxed when I saw twelve people in the boardroom, most of them women. We chatted for a few minutes, and then a gentleman called the meeting to order.

I watched as two members rose to share the word and joke of the day. A third member introduced the Table Topics section of the meeting. I gathered from her brief description that impromptu speaking was involved. And then the woman turned in my direction and smiled. “Joanne, would you like to participate?”

Buy Links

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Inspired by Two Francescas

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

In June of 1995, I sat with eyes glued to the big screen as Meryl Streep assumed the role of Francesca Johnson, an Italian war bride, in the romantic drama The Bridges of Madison County. Based on the best-selling novel by Robert James Waller, the film focuses on a four-day love affair between two middle-aged lovers, Francesca and Robert Kincaid, a National Geographic photojournalist brilliantly played by Clint Eastwood.

Having spent years in a passionless marriage, Francesca falls deeply in love with Robert. She contemplates leaving her loyal husband and teenage children.

Continue reading on the Soul Mate Authors blog.

The Sum of This Year

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

In A Year of Writing Dangerously, author and teacher Barbara Abercrombie shares anecdotes, insights, and solutions. She ends the book with the following advice:

You have some stories or essays now, or your first draft in some stage of completion. Or maybe you have a pile of scribbled pages or notebooks, or a computer full of notes.

Give yourself credit for anything you’ve written this year. Turn on your sweetheart voice, and let it tell you how brave you’ve been to write anything at all.

And then figure out what you’re going to do with your manuscript or notes.

Don’t give yourself the excuse of feeling overwhelmed. You’ve come this far; now get on with it.

Source: A Year of Writing Dangerously

Honoring Roger Whittaker

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Earlier today, Roger Whittaker, one of the United Kingdom’s most celebrated folk singers, died at age 87.

Born in Kenya to English parents, Roger attributed his love of music to his childhood in Nairobi. In an interview he commented, “In over 30 years of singing and playing musical sounds, the wonderful drumming and those marvellous, infectious rhythms have played a great part in everything I have ever written and sung.” His song “My Land is Kenya” is often played on television and radio during national holidays and election campaigns in that country.

A prolific artist, Roger sold close to 50 million records and received 250 platinum, gold, and silver awards. Fluent in several languages, he also achieved success in the Nordic countries, France, and Germany.

A longtime fan, I was thrilled when he visited my hometown of Sudbury, Ontario in the early 1980s. My mother (an even more avid fan) and I attended the packed concert.

Here’s the back story behind my favorite song:

In 1971, Roger Whittaker hosted a radio program in Great Britain. To increase ratings, he invited listeners to send their best poems or lyrics. Of the over one million entries received, Whittaker selected twenty-six. With the help of orchestra conductor Zack Lawrence, he recorded the songs and played them on the radio over a six-month period.

One of those poems was written by Ron A. Webster, a silversmith from Birmingham, England. Bittersweet and poignant, the lyrics became even more compelling when Lawrence added a French horn solo to the opening. The song was also featured on Whittaker’s 1971 album, “New World in the Morning,” but failed to reach the music charts.

Fast forward four years…

While traveling in Canada, the wife of a program director for a radio station in Atlanta, Georgia heard the four-year-old recording on the radio. Moved by the haunting lyrics describing a young British soldier’s anguish about going to war, she couldn’t get that song out of her head. When she returned to Atlanta, she asked her husband to play the song on the radio.

Listeners called the station for more information about the song and the recording artist. Soon after, “The Last Farewell,” made its way onto the charts. It became a Top 20 hit in 1975 and sold over 11 million copies worldwide.

More interesting facts…

In 1976, Elvis Presley included the song on his album, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee. When this version was released posthumously in 1984, it reached #48 in the United Kingdom.

Chet Atkins recorded an instrumental version on his 1986 album, Sweet Dreams.

AIK a Swedish sports club, adopted the music with alternate lyrics as their official anthem.

And most impressive of all, “The Last Farewell” became known as Roger Whittaker’s signature song and helped launch his career in the United States.

Happy September!

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

September derives its name from the Latin word “septem,” which means “seven.” In the original Roman calendar, September was the seventh month of the year. That changed when the months of January and February were added.

Here are ten interesting facts about September:

1. The aster and the morning glory are September’s birth flowers. A symbol of love and patience, the aster comes in various colors, from purple and pink to white and red. The morning glory is a trumpet-shaped flower that blooms blue, pink, purple, and red. It symbolizes affection and mortality.

2. In the second verse of her poem, “September,” Mary Howitt provides the following vivid description:

There are flowers enough in the summertime,
More flowers than I can remember—
But none with the purple, gold, and red
That dye the flowers of September!

You can read Mary’s poem here.

3. The birthstone for September is sapphire. This gemstone is associated with loyalty and sincerity and is thought to encourage divine wisdom and protection. In the past, some people believed that if a sapphire was placed in a jar with a snake, the snake would die.

4. People born between August 23 and September 23 fall under the sign of Virgo, and those born later in the month fall under Libra. People born under Virgo are wise and highly analytical. Compassionate and empathetic, Libras dislike conflict and avoid confrontation.

5. September is a month of remembrance, a time to honor and remember those who have made sacrifices for their country: Patriot Day on September 11, POW/MIA Recognition Day on September 18, and Gold Star Mother’s Day on the last Sunday of September.

6. Labor Day, the first Monday of the month, is observed in Canada and the United States.

7. This year (2023), the Autumnal Equinox occurs on September 23. On this day, the sun is directly above the equator, and day and night are equal in length. In the Northern Hemisphere, this marks the start of fall.

8. September has been designated Hispanic Heritage Month, Blood Cancer Awareness Month, National Suicide Prevention Month, National Self-Improvement Month, National Chicken Month, and National Happy Cat Month.

9. Famous people born in September include Estee Lauder (September 1, 1908), Keanu Reeves (September 2, 1964), Beyoncé (September 4, 1981), Colin Firth (September 10, 1960), Sophia Loren (September 20, 1934), and Stephen King (September 21, 1947).

10. September has more pop and classic songs with its name in the title than any other month. Some of the more famous songs include “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire, “September Song” by Frank Sinatra, “It Might as Well Rain Until September” by Carole King, “Maybe September” by Tony Bennett, and (my favorite) “See You in September” by The Happenings.

Choosing to Fail Forward

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

A long-time fan of bestselling authors and coaches Marc and Angel Chernoff, I look forward to reading their emails and blog posts. Here’s an excerpt from a recent email:

In those moments when you find yourself standing face to face with an issue you battled before — one bearing a lesson you were sure you’d already learned — remember, repetition is not failure. Ask the waves, ask the leaves, ask the wind. Repetition is required to evolve and grow. And repetition allows you to fail forward. We learn the right way on the way.

Truly, failures are opportunities to begin again smarter than before. If you’ve heard differently, forget what others have told you. Fail often, fail fast, clean it up, learn from it, move on, and then repeat. Just because things didn’t work out for you today, doesn’t mean there’s not something big in store for you tomorrow. Rest easy and get ready. Don’t waste your energy justifying your next step to the naysayers.

Note: I highly recommend subscribing to Marc & Angel’s website.