My friend Susie Berg is a writer. We met when we worked at Owl Magazine together years ago. She’s brilliant and one of those rare people you come across who has an incredible deep soul. I admire her writing and her passions. She’s one of the few who always reminds me to write from the heart. I’m fortunate to be able to lean on her when times get tough and I’m sure I don’t see her as often as I should even though she’s a mere two blocks from me. I’m happy when she reaches out and keeps me in the loop about what’s happening in her world.
I was thrilled when she had mentioned recently that she was going to be published (again) but this time her essay was to be published in a collection called Only Trollops Shave Above The Knee. The book is filled with wonderful heart-warming stories by writers who share “momisms” and life-lessons.
We can all relate to the many times our moms have given us advice. I can still hear my mom say, “If you don’t eat all your rice, you will marry someone ugly,” or “Eat all your rice or you’ll get lots of pimples.” and the more I think about this the more comes to mind. Moms are never shy to tell us what’s on their minds.
I had a chance to speak with the Crystal Ponti, the editor who had this awesome idea to pull these women and their stories together for this fabulous read.
How did you decide to gather these moms together to write this book?
I accepted submissions through my publishing boutique, Blue Lobster Book Co. As I read through the submissions, I looked for stories that caused me to get emotional, either laughing or crying. There is a nice balance between the heartfelt and the humorous in this book. And the writers are phenomenal!
There are so, so many lessons from our moms. Are there plans to continue this in a series?
No. This was a special book. There are no plans for a series. I hope it continues to be cherished and shared for years to come.
On a personal level, what lesson from your own mom really stuck with you?
I learned so much from her. The one lesson that has always stood out and is detailed in my story in the book is that nothing ventured means nothing gained. She taught me to be brave, stick my neck out, and take chances. I think that’s where my creative spirit comes from, as well as my entrepreneurial mindset.
Have you ever caught yourself in a moment and realized that you’re becoming your mother?
I’m totally my mother! She’s always in my head. I can even hear her in my voice sometimes. It can be scary, but then I remember that she did a pretty good job raising three kids. And from what I can see, my five are turning out just fine as well.
What would you want your kids to know about you, as a mom?
My kids know everything about me. We’ve always had an open-door policy. But if I died tomorrow, the one thing I would want them to know is that I tried my best. I really tried to do right by them and give them a solid foundation from which to grow. I hope they pass this along to their own children, starting with my beautiful granddaughter.
So, where can we get a copy?
Amazon, B&N.com, and iTunes.
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